Lopez, Tottenville start big stretch with win over rival Madison

Cheryl Lopez and Tottenville survived a shaky start to the game to gain a strong beginning to a big week.

The Pirates ace struggled with her control in the opening inning, gave up a hit to Victoria Slavik and walked Samantha Rodriguez with two outs. A double steal put runners on second and third. Lopez was able to wiggle out of trouble by getting Jennie Hosty to pop to right.

“I was struggling in the beginning with the mound, but I started to get into it and found a groove,” Lopez said.

Over the next six innings she allowed just one hit, a walk and finished with 12 strikeouts while retiring the final 11 batters she faced in an eventual 3-0 win over rival James Madison in a PSAL Class A softball crossover game Monday in Huguenot.

William Thomas

Tottenville's Cheryl Lopez struck out 12 against Madison.

Photos: Tottenville-James Madison

William Thomas

Tottenville picked up a big win over rival Madison Monday.

Photos: Tottenville-James Madison

“It’s definitely a confidence boost,” Lopez said.

The game was a rematch of the last three PSAL city finals, with Tottenville winning twice. The Pirates won 1-0 in 10 innings last year. Lopez got stronger as the game went on Monday and has now allowed just two runs in 24 innings of work against Madison, including 17 straight shutout frames.

“This is a big game for us,” Tottenville coach Cathy Morano said. “This was kind of a statement game. She did what she had to do.”

Madison ace Cheyenne Tatesure, who kept the ball down, was equal to the task for five innings as Tottenville (6-0), ranked No. 1 in the city by The Post, struggled to time her and had just four base runners. The Pirates finally broke through in the fourth against No. 9 Madison (6-1). Lopez delivered a leadoff single and pinch runner Genevieve Buccigrossi went to second on a wild pitch. Buccigrossi reached third when Jillian Regan grounded to short for the second out. Freshman Nylah Ramirez got a pitch up and drove it to the gap in left center for an RBI single.

“I was waiting for that pitch the whole game,” said Ramirez, who had two hits. “I hopped on top of it and knew that I had to get that RBI in.”

Tottenville hit Tatesure hard in the bottom of the sixth. Three straight line-drive hits, including a two-out, two-run double by Jillian Giuffre extended the lead to 3-0. Tatesure allowed six hits and struck out four. First-year Madison coach Brian Friedman harkened back to the first inning, saying a hit would have opened things up in their favor and raised his team’s confidence level.

“They are an extremely good team, the best team we’ve seen so far,” he said. “But I don’t want any of my girls to leave here thinking that they are better than us. … I think we have a very good chance of beating them anytime we step on the field."

The Pirates will get a chance to continue to prove how good they are following a win to start a season defining stretch. They face Island foe McKee/Staten Island Tech on Thursday, PSAL contender Construction on Friday and rival Susan Wagner on Monday.

“It’s big, considering the next teams we are playing are big teams,” Lopez said. “It’s good to get a win off them considering they are our main competitors. It’s good for the team’s energy.”

jstaszewski@nypost.com

James Madison, Tottenville, Cheryl Lopez, The Pirates, PSAL, PSAL, Victoria Slavik, Samantha Rodriguez, Madison ace Cheyenne Tatesure, Jennie Hosty

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