Lombardi Sisters Shine For Fox Lane

To help a team get off to a 4-1 start—as the Fox Lane softball squad has done—would give any player satisfaction. It’s even a better feeling when that feat is accomplished with your own sister, say the Lombardi sisters.

The duo includes Allison, a junior pitching standout who plays first base when she isn’t in the circle, and Christie, who has a great arm and plays superb defensive catching. As a sophomore, Christie is already the team's number one catcher, and when she isn't behind the plate, covers third base.

They are the same size (5-foot-9) and build and are often mistaken for twins as Allison is just 17 months older.

In addition to standing out on the field, the Lombardi's also thrive in the classroom. Each student makes the high-honor roll every quarter and achieves an approximate 96 average in honors courses. 

“I think it’s even more fun playing with your sister when one is the pitcher and the other is the catcher because there is a closer bond between the pitcher and the catcher than any other positions on the field,” Allison said.

Working with her sister has produced great results for Allison. She is 4-0 in the circle this year and is now 20-11 in her career at Fox Lane.

Allison is effective because she has good control. The proof is in the six walks she allowed in in 30 innings pitched this season. She has good off-speed pitches and uses a curve, drop and change-up. 

Both Lombardi’s are also off to great starts at plate. Allison, who leads off for the Foxes, is 10 for 19 (.526) with one double, two triples, seven RBI and eight runs scored. Christie, who bats second in Fox Lane’s lineup, is 9 for 18 (.500) with two doubles, six RBI and six runs scored.

“Christie is a great all-around player,” Allison said. “She is a really good defensive catcher and also she bats second for our team. She puts up huge power numbers.”

What helps both Lombardi’s is that because they know each other so well, they can help one another with any part of their game.

“We really know each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” Christie said. “We can really help each other out because we know what each other needs to work on.”

The Lombardi’s know each other so well because not only do they play softball together, they play other sports with each other as well.

“We have been playing together for so long in a bunch of different sports (field hockey and basketball in addition to softball) so we are totally used to having to work together,” Christie said.

Besides playing softball at Fox Lane, the Lombardi’s also play travel softball ball for The Junction Girls out of Eastchester. Its coaches are Jim Bell, whose daughter Bonnie Bell (Eastchester '90) will be inducted next year into the New York State Softball Hall of Fame and Mike Mitchell, whose daughter Brittany Mitchell is a star shortstop for Ursuline. 

Many of Section 1's best players play for The Junction Girls, including Jamie Weisser (Horace Greeley), Andrea Abbetiello and Bronwyn Bingham (Dobbs Ferry), Kelly Dillon (New Rochelle), Essence Savignon (Our Lady of Victory), Casey Stevko (Tuckahoe), Summer Horowitz (Briarcliff) and Jackie Inglesias (White Plains).

The Lombardi’s also play AAU basketball together for the Westchester Titans coached by Fox Lane coach Ayo Hart.

Regardless of what team the Lombardi’s play on, they are glad that they have each other to play with.

“The best thing about playing with your sister is that it’s like having a guaranteed friend on the team,” Christie said. “It’s someone that you always know, you can talk to, someone you know that will always be there for you.”

Allison concurred.

“It’s just so fun to be able to throw to her,” Allison said. “She is always there for me. It’s just so much fun to be able to play a sport with someone that you know and love so well.”

The Foxes will look to continue to play well this week with two big games on their schedule against rival Horace Greeley. Fox Lane will travel to Greeley on Tuesday, April 26 before hosting the Quakers on Thursday, April 28.

Both games are at 4:30 p.m.

“It’s a huge rivalry for us,” Allison said. “They are a good team. We are having good practices. We are excited and are ready to play them.”