Ferris softball could have enjoyed another successful season

 Ferris junior shortstop/pitcher Gina Estrada

Ferris senior third baseman Yasirie Severino

The Ferris High School softball team would have had some major holes to fill this season if there was no such thing as the coronavirus pandemic, which officially ended the spring high school sports seasons today.

Veteran head coach Mike Palughi was set to enter his 10^th year with the pure satisfaction that the Bulldogs indeed have a program now, after posting a 13-8 record last season, just one year removed from an appearance in the finals of the Hudson County Tournament against North Bergen.

But Palughi needed to replace two All-Hudson County players in outfielder Victoria Navarro and brilliant shortstop Melissa Rodriguez, who batted an astounding .571 with six homers and 33 RBI last season.

“If we’re going to be considered as a program, like we have been for the past six years, we have to just move on,” Palughi said. “We do have some big holes to fill. A credit to the girls, they came in when we started practice and worked very hard. They felt comfortable with themselves. We had seven girls with varsity experience and others who were coming in and competing with the others.”

Senior Desiree Rivera was poised to be the Bulldogs’ premier pitcher like she was last year. Rivera was Palughi’s jack-of-all-trades throughout her career.

“She was a left fielder and centerfielder as a freshman and she was a shortstop as a sophomore,” Palughi said. “She’s been all over the place. Desiree has been with us for four years, so she has a lot of experience. She has good leadership qualities. She stepped up big time for us last year.”

Junior Gina Estrada, who is very tall at 5-foot-11, is in the wings and will more than likely be Rivera’s replacement next season.

“We’re developing her,” Palughi said. “She has a good pitcher’s body.”

Lailany Maldonado was set to be the Bulldogs’ catcher. Maldonado is a senior.

“She stepped in last year and proved that she could be a good catcher,” Palughi said. “She was ready. I was expecting big things from her.”

Maldonado batted an even .500 with 21 RBI last season for the Bulldogs.

Senior Britney Paulino returned at first base. Paulino batted .351 with 20 RBI last season.

“She did a great job and got a lot of big hits for us,” Palughi said. “She’s a middle of the order type hitter.”

Amaya Rodriguez was set to be the second baseman. Rodriguez is a senior.

“She split time last year,” Palughi said. “She’s pretty fast.”

Estrada was set to be the Bulldogs’ shortstop. She had one home run and 17 RBI.

“She’s a great athlete,” Palughi said. “I can put her in a lot of spots. She can play shortstop, first base and pitch. She puts the bat on the ball.”

Senior Yasirie Severino was set to be the third baseman.

“She paid her dues and gets a turn now,” Palughi said before the season was officially declared over. “She came in this year and was ready to go. She makes all the plays.”

Senior Kaylin Zayas, the daughter of Ferris baseball assistant coach Angel Zayas, was ready to be the starting left fielder.

“She’s a program kid who has been with us for four years,” Palughi said. “She’s the kind of player who puts the team first.”

Junior Angelina Navarro, who batted .388 with three homers and 21 RBI, was in line to be the centerfielder.

“She’s one of the best athletes on the team,” Palughi said. “She’s on base all the time. She’s definitely one of our top players.”

Navarro will be back next season.

Sophomore Jezenia Aponte was destined to be the right fielder.

“She’s a good athlete,” Palughi said. “She ran cross country in the fall. She has good speed. She’s a lefty hitter, so we’ll try to get her on base.”

Palughi liked the makeup of his club.

“We have a solid lineup,” Palughi said. “We were looking forward to the season. I feel terrible for our seniors. As a coach, I want us all to be safe, but I wanted to do something good for our seniors.”

Unfortunately, the Bulldog seniors will not get the final opportunity. Fate was not at all kind.