Just Getting Caught Up - Or - Just in Time for a Big Finish!

The title of this blog really says it all. The added responsibility of being Head Coach of Varsity Boys Lacrosse has kept me fairly busy, as has getting around to see as many of the other sports as possible. Thus, I have found little time for reflection, much less time to compose those reflections into some sort of coherent prose. It seems now, however, that I finally have a quiet weekend and a chance to look back on the first month of the Spring Athletic Season at Portledge. To say we have already had a bit of excitement and achievement during the first half of the Spring really does not do justice to the action of the past month. Whether you are watching the drive of the Varsity Girls Lacrosse team to remain at the top of Metropolitan area independent school girls lacrosse scene, or marveling at the amazing rekindling of top flight boys tennis here at Portledge, you are seeing some tremendous individual and team efforts. Did I fail to mention that in only their second season of Varsity play, the Varsity Softball team is undefeated with a record of 6-0, and stands at the top of the very competetive IPPSAL Softball league. Beyond that, the Varsity Basebal teaml is 3-3 and in good position to reach the IPPSAL Baseball playoffs, and although just sporting a record of 1-3, the Varsity golfers have turned in some phenomenal individual performances where several team members have recorded official match scores just above par. Finally, we have the Varsity Boys Lacrosse team - so many times a bastion of excellence and the leading spring athletic program. This spring, however, is a time of rebuilding for Boys Lacrosse. Nevertheless, it is a "situation" that may produce something quite special before you know it. Now that I have summarized all that is going on this Spring in Portledge Athletics, you can see how finding the time write about it all can be somewhat of a daunting task. Before I go into a few specifics though, I would like to remind those of you who would like more immediate feedback about how the individual programs are fairing to check out the team pages. There, the result of every game is recorded along with a coaches' recap of the events. In some cases, and I send out a big hooray to Senior Ben Shapiro, those recaps are even being written by the players themselves.

So, from all that I've shared, what is truly exceptional. Well one can't help to watch with wonder the day to day commitment to excellence displayed by the players and coaches of the Varsity Girls Lacrosse team. Led by a host of Senior standouts this team seems driven to be the best they can, and to possibly earn another shot at a NYSAISAA crown. Last spring ended in the heartache of a double overtime loss to Hackley in the Championship game, but that event has only served to springboard the team into this season. After a very productive week in Florida, they have returned to run up a record of 7 wins and 2 losses which has been strong enough keep them in first or second place in the metro area independent school girls lacrosse rankings. Tomorrow - Monday, May 3rd the Lady Panthers will take on the team that has most shared the top spot with the Portledge girls this season, the Riverdale Country School. The game will be at Riverdale (4:30pm) and the result should go a long way in determining the eventual top seed for the NYSAISAA Tournament. Aside from the great Senior play of Addie Reilly, Claudia Rogers, Robyn Worrall and Monique Kelly this team differs from last year's squad in the amount of production it is getting from underclassmen. Freshmen Ceci Mulry and Erin Brand have been significant contributors on offense, as has Sophmore Martine Krown, who recently recorded a five goal - three assist game. While at the other end of the field, Sophmore defender Alexa Lodenquai and Sophmore goalie Denise Mikalev have both been very solid. In addition to the Riverdale match up, the girls still have a bunch of other challenging dates with the likes of Lu Hi (May 5th), SIA (May7th), Chapin (May 10th) and Poly Prep (May 19th) before all these teams battle it out in the NYSAISAA Championship Tournament (May 23rd-26th). You are all encouraged to come out and see this remarkable team in the afoerementioned games, all of which are at HOME!

Where now....I guess we should stick with Girls Sports and the incredible ride that the Varsity Girls Softball team is on. Under the direction of Softball gurus Shane Capuccio and Andrea McKeon this Lady Panther outfit is running on all cylinders. Built around the incredible pitching arm of Freshman Samantha Kaplan, the team defeated defending IPPSAL Champion Lu Hi in its first game and has not looked back since. Playing here and there, since we have no softball diamond here at Portledge, and without several key hitters on ocaision, this group of girls has been fantastic. One can't help but root for them to go all the way this season and bring home the school's first ever Softball Championship. Next week the Varsity Softball team will travel twice to OSNA in Centereach for 4:30 starts on Wed, May 5th and Fri, May 7th. If you have the chance, gas up the car and go check out our unbeaten Lady Panther Softball team.

The last really phenomenal story from the first month of the 2010 Spring Sports season has been the revival of the Varsity Boys Tennis program. This all began on a cold day in January when a quiet young man, who was then attending a prep school outside of London, England, came by Portledge to see what it was like. His Mom, Dad and younger siblings were all moving to Long Island and he was contemplating leaving his school and making the move to the states with his family. He was just looking for the right school and we are very lucky that Portledge fit that bill. If you have not had the chance to see Alex Schidlovsky take on the opposing #1 players at all the ACIS and IPPSAL schools then you are truly missing something. Not only is Alex a legitimate ace (no pun intended) at the top spot, but he is a real artist with his game. Possessing a sublime backhand cut and exceptional touch all over the court, Schidlovsky constructs points like Tchaikovsky (note Russian reference) wrote music. Easy going and soft one minute, tunderous and final the next. If you are a tennis fan, do yourself a favor and stop by the courts next Saturday for the ACIS Individual Singles and Doubles Championships. Not only will you get to experience Alex' play, but you will also see the individual who is quickly becoming the best all around athlete at Portledge School, Cameron Daniels. Earlier this year Cameron was tremendous winger for a very good 7/8 Boys Soccer team and was then the MVP point guard for the 7/8 Boys Basketball team. There is a good chance he would have also garnered that award for his play in baseball this spring except that Cam decided it was time to bring his best game - tennis - to the Portledge sports scene. Sanding 4 foot something, Cameron always brings a bit of a chuckle out of his opponent when they are introduced. The opponent's smile though, usually turns to a frown before even the warmups are done. Just this past Friday the #2 player on a very good Friends Seminary team was overheard telling his coach, "this kid doesn't miss anything". While the team is 7-2 in combined ACIS & IPPSAL play Cameron remains undefeated in the #2 singles spot. The rest of the Varsity Tennis program is strong with Eddie Huai holding down the #3 singles spot and terrific doubles play from Vishal Chinchwadkar, George Gage, the Snow brothers, Niko and Alex, Dan Greenstein and Senior Christian Sbarro, who has been a really sound addition to the team playing both singles and doubles. They are deep, incredible at the top and guided by the steady and experienced hand of Dr. David Sarles, who has been cultivating the tennis program here at Portledge for years.

So we have got ourselves some exciting days ahead as these teams move toward championship play. We hope they are also joined by late runs from the Varsity Baseball and Varsity Boys Lacrosse teams, which would make the Portledge sports fields and courts an incredible place to be this spring. See you all at the games, because that's where I'll be!!