Fallon McCarthy felt it was finally time to make a change.
“I got hurt and it was time,” the Archbishop Molloy junior said. “I had been trying to [lose weight] for a while. I just figured why not for junior year.”
She has had a series of injuries to her left knee and wears a bulky brace to this day on it. A setback last season cost her the job as the team’s starting third baseman to senior Alanna Gallagher on a team that went on to win the program’s first CHSAA state crown. McCarthy was going to make sure she was in better shape for this season.
“Because she loves the sport and wants to play, she just went all out,” Stanners coach Maureen Rosenbaum said.
Denis Gostev
Molloy's Fallon McCarthy lost 40 pounds over the summer
The idea of reclaiming her spot at the hot corner motivated McCarthy to stick with her diet and exercise plan that included plenty of running. She lost 40 pounds before the school year started. It made performing at a high level easier than years past. McCarthy said it’s raised her confidence level.
“I can’t really explain it,” she said. “It’s kind of the best feeling in the world, just knowing all those months of sweat, a lot of crying and stuff have paid off.”
It helped make her an even more productive player for the Stanners. She is a slick-fielding third baseman, who is good at digging out tough hops and making plays to the line alongside Maria Palmeri or Dana Moss at short. Rosenbaum pointed out how much better she moves now. Molloy is off to a 6-1 start in CHSAA Brookyln/Queens 'AA'
“At third base she is doing amazing,” Palmeri said. “I don’t think anything has really gotten by her.”
One of McCarthy’ biggest improvements have been at the plate, Rosenbaum described her bat as OK last season. Now she has helped add depth to the Molloy order after Palmeri, Dana and Taylor Moss in the middle. McCarthy was 3-for-4 in a win over St. Francis Prep and smacked a two-run home run as the Stanners beat Christ the King. Rosenbaum said she has the utmost confidence in her.
“She hits for consistency and power, what more can you ask for?” she said.
Her third baseman can’t think of much else.
“I’m never going back,” McCarthy said.
N ew sign-language a success at Sea: St. Joseph by the Sea was missing too many signs for coach Mike Ponsiglione’s liking. Rather than try to drill them into his players' heads, he changed the way they were communicated. The Vikings now use a flexible numbers system to determine what the players do at the plate, on the bases and on defense.
“We were getting a little confused when we would bunt and run, fake bunt steal,” Ponsiglione said. “It was taking too long to process it.”
Each Vikings player puts on wristband when they get up to bat, similar to that of an NFL player, that has a changeable card with numbers that corresponds to things like bunt, steal, surprise bunt and swing among others. At third, Ponsiglione has the same card, which they can change every few innings, in his pocket. Instead of making hand gestures he will yell 233 or 457 to tell the players what they are supposed to do. Other numbers correspond for defensive alignments.
“It helps a lot,” junior Lianna Jordan said. “No one missed anything because you can’t.”
It’s a system used by multiple colleges and has served the Vikings well as they are 11-1 overall. Their JV team has already been using the system before the varsity decided to give it a try.
“It’s fool proof,” Ponsiglione said.
Preston putting itself among city’s best: Rachel Mazza knew when the year started she had a team with all the physical talents to be successful despite its youth. Preston plays four freshmen. The longtime coach knew she had to get this squad used to big games if they were going to be successful this year and beyond.
“I knew they had the talent to do it,” Mazza said. “This year I really focused on the mental game. I tried to get it into their heads that they had to stay mentally in the game.”
The Panthers have been in every game they have played. It lost by a run to defending CHSAA Archdiocesan champion Moore Catholic, beat St. Francis Prep and Mary Louis and fell to St. Joseph by the Sea 3-0.
Preston’s best showing come in a 5-4 loss to PSAL power Tottenville, ranked No. 1 in the city in The Post, without seniors Kitty Lajqi, Kristie Davidow and freshman star Danielle Kibler, who were all away for spring break. Shortstop Jessica Signore, who moved to catcher, was one of three players who were out of position. Victoria Rivera, one of the last additions to the team, had two hits and drove all three runs.
“It’s was ridiculous,” Mazza said of the Tottenville loss. “We played them tough. I really truly believe if we had our full roster it would have been a different result.”
Preston has one more tough non-league game left when it visits defending Catholic state champion Molloy 4:15 p.m. Thursday. The Panthers hope all this experience will help them break through to the Archdiocesan final later in the season.
“It boosted their confidence so much that they’re just tearing it up right now," Mazza said.
jstaszewski@nypost.com
Fallon McCarthy, CHSAA, McCarthy, St. Francis Prep, St. Francis Prep, Maureen Rosenbaum, Rosenbaum, Maria Palmeri, Rachel Mazza, Alanna Gallagher, Stanners
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