RKA avenges earlier loss to Clinton, 11-1

By Jason Eisenberg

She wears number seven, plays centerfield, and with the way she has been hitting, you almost expect to see the name “Mantle” on the back of her blue and white jersey as she races out of the batter’s box.

For the past four years, any discussion of the David A. Stein Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy, MS/HS 141 softball team usually begins with Nelyssa Rosario and ends with Jane Witkowski. The two talented seniors have been synonymous with the program’s success since their freshman seasons.

However, there is another member of the Lady Tigers who is now part of this conversation.

Junior Erica Wilczek put up impressive stats during her previous seasons with RKA, but the speedy centerfielder has officially become a star in 2010 and has joined her more-heralded teammates as one of the top players in all of New York City.

“I am just really confident right now and it feels good to be contributing to the team so consistently,” said Wilczek. “Those two girls [Rosario and Witkowski] are awesome, so obviously I am honored to even be mentioned with them.”

Wilczek’s skills were on display last week against DeWitt Clinton, in what was the most important game to date for the Lady Tigers this season. The only loss currently blemishing RKA’s record had come at the hands of Clinton and the Lady Tigers were determined to avoid a similar outcome in the rematch. With the top spot in the Bronx standings on the line, RKA scored seven unanswered runs over the first two innings to take complete control of the contest.

Highlights of this offensive explosion included a two-run single by Wilczek, the first of two triples on the day for Rosario, an RBI single from Witkowski and a hard-hit double by senior outfielder Felice Schwarz that brought two more runners home.

In addition, RKA sophomore starting pitcher Zanovia Pierce had arguably her most impressive performance of the season. Pierce allowed just five hits and one run while striking out 10 batters in six innings, completely shutting down a Clinton offense that had scored at least nine runs in all but one game so far this season.

With an 8-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth, it was Wilczek who again took center stage, though, as the Tigers ended the game one frame early due to the mercy rule. First, she tricked the Clinton defense by laying down a perfectlyplaced surprise bunt to knock in her team-high third run of the day. A few minutes later, after advancing to third on a groundout by junior third baseman Ariel Torres, Wilczek successfully stole home — her second stolen base in the game — to seal the 11-1 win for RKA.

“The bunt was actually an accident but it worked out, anything to help the team win,” said Wilczek, “This was such an important game so it felt great to get home and touch the plate. Now we are another step closer to clinching first place.”

One day later, Wilczek was at it again, going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate in a 13-0 romp over Adlai Stevenson. With these back-to-back stellar performances, the centerfielder’s batting average has surged up to a team-leading mark of .739. In fact, there are just three girls in all of New York City that have a better average than Wilczek among those with at least 20 plate appearances.

“Erica has been hitting the ball like crazy and it has taken a lot of pressure off of Nelly and Jane. I even moved her to the middle of the lineup just so she would be in a better position to drive in runs,” said RKA head coach Bob Finz. “Right now, we are a force to be reckoned with. We have a great hitting team from top to bottom and if Zanovia keeps pitching like this, it will be tough for anyone to beat us.”