Wednesday
September 18, 2024 
Karlye Teman is in control.
The Palisades sophomore continues to be one of the area’s dominant softball hurlers. Beginning this week, Teman had a staggering 8-1 record with a 0.36 ERA with 104 strikeouts in 58 innings. She has hurled five no-hitters this season and has seven for her two-year career.
Teman was involved in a combined no-hitter with Madisyn Deem last Friday – an 11-1 thumping of Nativity BVM – that further solidified the Pirates’ presence atop the District 11 Class 3A bracket (10-1).
Based on Teman’s performance, should anxiety be a factor? At one time, it was.
“I used to get nervous if I had the bases loaded or two runners on base in tight spots,” reflected Teman. “I would end up throwing pitches that I shouldn’t and lose my focus. I also would get angry if I made a bad pitch or there was a play that should have been made in the field.
“I have worked to overcome those things, and I have matured. I feel more confident and comfortable out there than last year.”
Aside from the new outlook, Teman hasn’t changed anything in her repertoire.
“It definitely was more mental,” noted Teman. “I really haven’t added any pitches this season. I know the hitters better now than I did, and I feel I can adjust my speeds. I have a next pitch mentality, and I’m no longer worried about what I threw.
“I remember being at a state game last year, and seeing all of the people. I never pitched in front of that kind of a huge crowd. I knew it got to me, and I wasn’t comfortable. If it happens again this season, I know how to respond to it.
“I’m very confident in the people behind me, and in my catcher. We all know that teams will be gunning for us.”
With the team winning its first district title in 12 years last season, Teman has felt an elevated level of pressure, as the softball community expects the Pirates to be a contender this season, a role that was seldom in play.
“The program was struggling when I got here, and we won 13 games during the season last year,” said Teman. “We all believed in ourselves last year, and we developed a good chemistry.
“Winning a district title was huge for us, and we can go out there and have fun. There aren’t too many things that bother us.”
Head coach Jill Amato, who is in her fifth season, also has seen Teman grow as a pitcher.
“Karlye picked up where she left off last season and then some,” stressed Amato. “Her maturity on the mound and her confidence in her fielders had really grown. She enters every game being up for the task and wanting to execute to the best of her ability.
“Throwing a no-hitter is a big task, let alone five in nine games.”
Amato also has seen plenty of character and maturity from the rest of her players. Senior catcher Ashley Amato, her daughter, had a team-high .429 batting average, sophomore Brooklynn Lucas was at .391, and Teman was at .367. Freshman Catie Russo has been a pleasant surprise as the starting shortstop,
“The team overall had a slow start hitting,” stated Amato. “We were winning games by close calls. But they settled in just like I thought they would.
“To be able to have the confidence of your offense being able to back up your defense is a great feeling as a coach. We only lost one starter, so it was big to bring back almost your whole team after winning districts.”
Amato realizes her team is relatively young, but that isn’t a deterrent.
“We are very young, but we came up big in important games,” she beamed. “We beat defending league champion Bangor and Northwestern, which was undefeated.
“Our goals are to be in the Colonial League and District 11 finals.”
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