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Putnam Valley Takes Lead in League III-A Title Chase
Streaking Tigers winners of nine in a row on diamond
by Ray Gallagher
 | | PV catcher Larry Cobb making a great play at the plate in win over Pleasantville last Friday |
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Modest gains are far better than growing pains.
If you're part of Putnam Valley High baseball program that had very little to show by way of pride over the first five years of its existence, you'll take a nine-game win streak over the half a decade of habitual losing. The Tigers produced victories at a clip of about three per year until the commitment got real and the caliber of player improved this spring, and Putnam Valley is actually leading the race for the League III-A title.
At 10-2, third-year Coach Joe Natalie's Tigers are setting a new standard and a school record each time they take the field and leave it with a victory. With a school record eightgame win streak in tow, the Tigers went out and defeated Pleasantville by a 7-6 count to improve to 8-1 in the league; two games up in the loss column on the Panthers (11-5, 4- 3).
"I don't think we really expected to be this good at the start of the season," junior catcher Larry Cobb said. "We knew we'd be competitive and we thought we'd be able to play with just about anyone in Class B, but none of us thought we'd be taking on a nine game win streak. Now, we're in the lead for the league title."
Yet, that is where the Tigers stood after SS/P Josh Coppa chucked the finals two innings of scoreless relief for starter Greg D'Annibale (5 IP, 0 earned runs), who fanned five and deserved a win. The offense was keyed by sophomore 2B Chris Orlando, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI. CF Karl Lange went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run, including the game-winner in the bottom of the sixth. Mike Vallo, Larry Cobb and Coppa each drove home a run and Cobb saved another with a gorgeous block and tag at the plate. DH Matt Bauer hit a big double in the sixth to start the winning rally. Pat Considine, who struck out 10 batters in a 3-2 complete game win over Panas the day before, stroked a hit and scored a run. Considine improved to 4-0 and lowered his ERA to a microscopic 0.96 in his two-hit win over Panas. That ERA is tops in the league, ahead of Kennedy's Ryan Tatnell (1.18 ERA), a Putnam Valley product throwing for the Gaels. The Tigers have allowed just 49 runs in 12 games, best in the league and second best in the conference to Sleepy Hollow (43).
"Pat's throwing the ball real well right now and he's learning how to be a pitcher," Natalie said. "We're a little banged up right now, and we still haven't hit the way I think we can, but it's coming together for us."
PV RECAP: Putnam Valley lacrosse coach Brian Kuczma can only hope the same for his Tigers (5-8), who posted a critical 9-8 win over Pleasantville last Friday before suffering a 14-10 loss to Clarkstown South on Monday. Tom Kelly hit the hat trick and Peter Morgan had a goal and two assists in the win over the Panthers. Cory Ender soaked 17 shots between the pipes. Jimmy Fitzsimmons had his coming out party in the loss to South, scoring a careerhigh five goals. Jimmy Comfort torched the Tigers with four goals and three assists. The Tigers will take on Fox Lane Thursday. The win over Pleasantville may have quieted the notion that the Tigers have slipped a notch on the Class C lax scene. Some folks in local lax circles were hinting that the Class C title game might feature the Pleasantville Panthers and two-time defending champion Rye, rather than two-time runnerup Putnam Valley.
The PV girls lax team has come out of the gate quickly, compiling a 6-2-1 mark in its first season of varsity competition. Ashley Morgan leads the team with 29 goals and 31 points while Hannah Tavella has 20 goals and 25 points.
"My girls are awesome, such a great bunch," said first-year varsity coach Kristin Bulkley. "We are doing well so far, but we're only halfway through. We'll see what the second half brings."
After a big 9-2 win over Walter Panas last Wednesday, the Putnam Valley softball team hit the skids this weekend at the Beacon Tournament where the 8-5 Tigers placed fourth with losses to the host Bulldogs (13-0) and Albertus Magnus (3-1). The bats went dead, producing just one run in 14 innings.
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