When you pitch your team to the state championship as a sophomore, it's only natural to raise the bar. This year, Chapel Field junior pitcher Alyssa Brognano is leading through a perfect season. Both are 17-0. In 112 innings as of May 22, this season she has allowed just four runs and struck out 160 batters. She also had a streak of 10 games without issuing a walk. The right hander has come a long way since she was an 8 year old attending the first throwing clinics held by Mount Saint Mary softball coach Janice Pettite-Brundage. Brognano now brandishes a fiery fastball, change up, drop pitch, riser and screwball. Brognano is just as proud of her team's defense as she is of her throwing. Chapel Field has not allowed an unearned run, and is gunning for a sixth state Class D championship since 2000. What has been the highlight of your pitching career? "Winning the Class D state championship last year and throwing a perfect game" What was it like winning the championship? "It felt amazing. Last year, we lost our first game. We started slow and lost four games. We had alot of injuries and two players changed schools. There were only nine or ten people on the team. The team bonded and became closer" What is your best pitch? "My riser adn screwball" Why is Chapel Field so successful? "We are all best friends. We never fight. We are all good hitters. There are no weak links in our defense. We pick each other up" How Many people go to Chapel Field? " There are about 250 people in the middle school and high school. I originally went to New Paltz until the eighth grade. Over there, each grade had 250 people" How did you react when you switched schools? "It was a complete shock as to how much smaller it is. You are friends with a lot more people" What are your hobbies? "I play the oboe in band. I am also on the soccer and basketball teams" Favorite movie? "Breakfast at Tiffany's with Audrey Hepburn" How Do you know about such a classic? "I was flipping through the channels and stopped on the Turner Classic Movies. She had such poise and spoke with authority. She had control of the situation and was elegant" Favorite Band? "The Cab. I still like Britney Spears, I saw her in Westchester as a child" If you win the state championship again, how will you top it? "We are going to have an alumni game in July"
