Gina Lopez was visibly upset. Her 20th−seeded Grand Street Campus softball team had just lost to No. 13 Bayside, 12−2 in six innings, on Thursday in the first round of the PSAL Class A softball playoffs.
The poor weather conditions made life difficult for the senior windmiller, who was constantly wiping the ball off with the front of her powder blue jersey.
Then Lopez flashed a smile. She wasn’t happy with the loss, but the Wolves’ season was successful.
“We never thought this was gonna happen,” she said.
Grand Street (9−9) moved up to Class A three years ago. In their first two seasons, the Wolves had a combined total of five wins. Last year’s 2−14 record in Brooklyn A was taken hard by everyone on the roster. This year, with virtually the same group, they finished in a three−way tie for second with Lincoln and Bushwick behind PSAL powerhouse James Madison.
“I’m very proud of my team,” she said.
Coach Andre Johnson wasn’t too unhappy, either. Of course, he was hoping his squad would have received a better draw. Bayside (11−6), which is typically one of the best teams in the city not to mention the PSAL runner−up in 2008, is not the team he wanted to see across the field in the first round.
“The numbers don’t mean anything,” Johnson said. “Obviously, they’re much better than their seed.”
Grand Street certainly could have made an argument for a better seed itself. The Wolves beat No. 14 Lincoln twice in the regular season, the last time a 12−2, run−rule rout in five innings. The Railsplitters moved into the second round with a 10−6 win against No. 19 Riverdale⁄Kingsbridge on Thursday, while the Wolves will be going home.
Lopez said she doesn’t have many regrets, though. At least not for the season. Thursday, though, was another story.
