Nine new members were inducted into the GCHSAA Hall of Fame . (Joseph Staszewski)
Courtney Fitzgerald-Cardot’s first pitch is a thing of legend at The Mary Louis Academy.
She came to the Jamaica Estates school as sophomore after attending JHS 216 in Fresh Meadows from seventh to ninth grade and was ready to fire her first pitch in front of the Hilltoppers coaching staff. The story goes that the ball popped so loud in the catcher’s glove that for a moment all anyone there could do was stop and stare.
“I threw one pitch and coach [Kevin] Klein looked up to heaven and was like, ‘Thank you God my prayers were answered,’” Fitzgerald-Cardot said. “That was a very true story.”
The future St. John’s University ace went on to become arguably the best pitcher in the history of Mary Louis, leading the Hilltoppers to the CHSAA state title in 1998 and back to the final a year later as a senior. Fitzgerald-Cardot, who was inducted into the GCHSAA Hall of Fame at Russo’s on the Bay Thursday, compiled a record of 70-10 over three varsity seasons, with 450 strikeouts and a career ERA of 1.08.
“She was unstoppable,” said former TMLA coach Rich Borawski, now an assistant at Adelphi.
He said Fitzgerald-Cardot really came into her own as a senior after being predominately a power pitcher. She believed it started the summer leading into that season as she mastered the mental side of pitching. Fitzgerald was able to use more her stuff more effectively and better understood how to work counts, using one pitch to set up the next.
“Senior year she became the complete pitcher,” Borawski said.
The Hilltoppers tested themselves against top competition that season, including Bay Shore and ace Kim Ryan, who ended up at Boston College. Fitzgerald-Cardot allowed just an unearned run in an eight-inning loss. Games like that eased the transition to pitching at St. John’s, an opportunity she said she could not pass up. But there was still a learning curve she needed to go through at the Big East school.
“It’s a tier of mental games,” Fitzgerald-Cardot said. “High school you can potentially miss a pitch and not get rocked. In college if you missed a pitch you were done.”
She didn’t miss many.
In 2003 she led the Johnnies to a victory over nationally ranked Fresno State after pitching 21 innings in a game against Seton Hall in 2000. The All-Big East second team selection in 2004 left St. John’s as its all-time leader in wins (59), shutouts (21), innings pitched (711.2) and games started (103) and was in the top five in strikeouts. She was on the coaching staff for the 2004-05 season, is currently the mother of two and is expecting her third child with her husband Andy. Fitzgerald-Cardot still gives private pitching lessons near her Rochester home.
“Being able to play at St. John’s and being from Queens is a great honor.” she said. “If you look at their roster since I went there the majority of the players are from the West Coast. There is a lot of sense of pride that I actually came from Queens and got to play there and have a successful career.”
Being inducted into the Hall of Fame was also gratifying. She was caught off guard when she first heard the news, but it was something that meant a lot.
“It’s a great honor,” Fitzgerald-Cardot said. “I had a great team to play with, good coaches and a great school that had our backs.”
Also honored: During St. Francis Prep track coach Jim May’s 31 seasons, he won 19 CHSAA city championships and 35 Brooklyn/Queens titles. In 1996 he led the Terriers to triple crown of track by winning city crowns in all three seasons. … Jane Morris, the Cardinal Spellman girls basketball coach and athletic director, has compiled a 642-198 record over 38 seasons. She has won 20 division championships, five Archdiocesan titles and a state Federation crown in 1999 to go along with three CHSAA state crowns. Morris was also one of the founders of the girls division of the CHSAA Archdiocese. … Karen Andreone, the Our Lady of Mercy athletic director, founded the girls athletic program at St. Agnes Cathedral HS. At Our Lady of Mercy, she coached the volleyball team to four New York State finals and the softball team to two state crowns and is currently coaching badminton. … Sue Shepherd has been a vital part of high school sports for the last 25 years. The St. John Villa athletic director is the president of the Archdiocese and member of the CHSAA state executive committee. Shepherd coached swimming, basketball and softball at Villa. … Carol Ann Timpone was the first female athletic director at Christ the King, served as the chairperson of the GCHSAA and was also the school’s tennis coach. She is currently an assistant principal. … Thomasina Lenzi successfully coached volleyball and JV basketball for 15 years at St. Saviour until leaving for Midwood.