Tappan Zee Freshman Tapped as Softball Pitcher

Tappan Zee High School math teacher Gene Kousoulas—in his fifth year coaching softball—has been involved at many different levels including modified, and must consider himself a worthy judge of talent.

Who else but a confident, qualified mentor would have the temerity to put the ball in the hands of a freshman?

In this case the freshman in the circle is Paulina Gutkin, who will start Friday afternoon’s season and home opener against Clarkstown North (weather, as always, permitting).

Kousoulas, a Pearl River graduate who worked for the Pirates under retired athletic director Tom Doherty and was a baseball walk-on at Iona College, readily admits that Gutkin has a lot on her shoulders.

“Last year we had a lot of fresh faces who were new to starting, but we had a four-year pitcher go off to Mercy College,” Kousoulas said, referencing all-everything windmiller Tayla Gardner.

Gutkin, the coach said, will be his primary pitcher this season after two years on the junior varsity.

“She has big shoes to fill, but I know she can handle it,” he added.

Tappan Zee had an up and down season last year, going into the Section 1 tournament barely over the .500 level.

“We lost six or seven [games] by one or two runs, there were a lot of close games,” Kousoulas noted. “Defensively we did pretty well, but offensively it was hit or miss.”

In the postseason, where it’s one (loss) and done, Tappan Zee stunned No. 6 Pelham in the first round, winning 9-0, remembers the coach.

“Then we went to Eastchester, a great team… it was raining, we had an hour and a half delay, both coaches helped with the field, and they squeezed out a run in the last inning to beat us,” he said.

“Sure, we’d like to be 20-0 going into the tournament—that means we’re a real good team, but I’d rather be playing well going in," Kousoulas added. "It’s one game, and if you’re on you move on.”

The veteran coach perennially puts together a tough outside schedule. When combined with the experience gained by going against other tough teams in the Rockland league, the wins are more meaningful.

“I don’t shy away from any good teams; it will make us better,” he said.

Tappan Zee meets Pearl River, Nyack and Albertus Magnus twice each during the season, and the Clarkstown schools, North and South, once each. There are also scheduled games against Double-A Rockland schools such as North Rockland, Suffern and Ramapo/Spring Valley, along with Westchester AA opponents Yorktown, Horace Greeley, along with Harrison and Eastchester.

“There’s a lot of good softball right here,” Kousoulas said, lauding the Rockland teams.

Helping the Tappan Zee cause against such solid opposition will be backup pitcher/second baseman Danielle Papalambros, along with returnees Colleen Pagnani, an all-section selection behind the plate, and junior center fielder Cassi Coyle.

“Cassi provides a burst of energy, a lot of speed,” Kousoulas said.

Kelly Connolly, a versatile freshman up from the JV ranks, and sophomore middle infielder Afredita Sinanaj—“We call her Dee,” said the coach—are also being counted upon as Tappan Zee is already pointing to the “second season,” the Section 1 tournament.

TAPPAN ZEE VARSITY SOFTBALL ROSTER

Head coach: Gene Kousoulas

Assistant coach: Chris LoRusso

Colleen Pagnani, sr., C/1b/ss; Diana Tzanis, sr., 3b; Meagan Casey, sr., 1b; Lauren Pagliaroli, sr., 3b/OF; Andrea Wedemeier, sr., OF; Cassi Coyle , jr., CF; Theresa Tagliaferi, jr., OF/1b; Danielle Papalambros, jr., 2b/P; Regina Argenzio, jr., ss/2b/OF; Afredita Sinanaj, so., ss/2b/3b; Paulina Gutkin, fr., P/2b/OF; Kelly Connolly, fr., 1b/C/Of.