By Manuel Polanco
The Brooklyn College (BC) women’s softball team entered this season with high hopes and aspirations of a championship. They ended their regular season with a record of 14-21, their best end to a season since 2015. BC began their trip in the CUNYAC tournament against a familiar foe, Hunter College.
After losing their doubleheader against Hunter in the last game of the season, BC once again faced the team in the first game of the CUNYAC tournament. BC would bounce back and win 4-0, advancing to the next round to face off against rivals John Jay College.
Game 1 was highlighted by great performances from sophomore catcher Vida Rodriguez, who went 3-4 with two runs scored. Dasha Goodman, on first base, went 1-3, but had herself a three-Run Batted In (RBI) day. Senior pitcher Danielle Guzzardi threw a shutout with four punchouts.
In Game 2, BC lost 7-1, ending their first day of the championship in a split. Up next was an opponent they’ve seen before: Baruch College. Freshman pitcher Ashley Konner went 2-3, and junior outfielder Sage Bernstein went 1-1.
Game 3 was a back-and-forth juggernaut, and unfortunately, the magical season for the Bulldogs would come to an end as they fell 6-5. They would be eliminated from the championship, but not without a fight.
Both BC and Baruch scored one run each in the first inning and two in the fourth inning. In this offensive juggernaut, Baruch would reign victorious, scoring two wins in the seventeenth inning. The Bulldogs were eliminated, but not without great performances from their players.
Senior shortstop Melanie Milan went 2-4 at the plate with an RBI, junior catcher Lianna Gonzalez went 2-4 and scored two runs; Konner went 1-1, but her only hit was a go-ahead hit that scored two runs. Senior second baseman Zoey Van Vleet had one hit and two RBIs.
While their season didn’t end the way they had hoped, many on the team were proud of their achievements and are excited for the new season next year.
Rodriguez reflected not only on her achievements, but the team’s season as a whole.
“I was locked into school, work, softball. I was at practice consistently, because talent is nothing without practice, in my opinion. I listened to the coaches, made adjustments, and proved not just to myself, but to everyone from teams to coaches that Brooklyn College softball is on the rise and ready,” Rodriguez said.
This motivation and grind helped Rodriguez end her season with a .350 average, six doubles, three triples, and one homer.
“I feel like a lot of the girls have improved much from last season,” Rodriguez added. “I can’t wait for next season, there’s a lot of new recruits coming in. I’m confident in our team and the fact that we made it to day two of the playoffs is incredible because that was our goal, and in 10 years BC hasn’t been above the 4th seed.”
Sophomore outfielder Hailey Johnston is a returning player this season, and she balances school work, athletics, and her role in the Undergraduate Student Government in her daily life. She, like Rodriguez, commended the team for their hard work and historic year.
“Winning games against Baruch and Hunter, as well as winning a playoff game for the first time in 10 years. Being a returner, comparing this season to the last, we’ve exceeded so many expectations. I’m really proud of how far we’ve come as a team!”
These players not only trust and believe in one another, but they also built strong bonds and will continue to grow as a family and a sisterhood.
“Our girls went out there and tried their hardest, they put their all into that game,” Johnston told The Vanguard. “Regardless of the loss, we made Brooklyn College history this season.”