Pearl River native Eleni Kousoulas Pallogudis was one of the most prolific softball players in Mercy College history. She donned the Flyers uniform from 1987 to 1990 and ranks in the top 10 in several categories in program history. She hit .341 for her career, including an outstanding .375 her rookie year. She ranks third all-time in triples (10), fifth in doubles (15), fifth in total bases (135), sixth in RBI (50), sixth in career average (.341), seventh in slugging percentage (.489) and ninth in runs scored (59). In addition, she swiped 26 bases in 36 attempts and drew 31 walks while striking out only 17 times in 276 career at-bats.
During her freshman season, Pallogudis notched a slugging percentage of .542 and knocked in 13 runs. She had her highest RBI output in her sophomore year with 16. Continuing to pose a dangerous threat in the batter’s box, Pallogudis hit .360 and .329 in her junior and senior seasons, respectively.
Pallogudis, who played under head coach and longtime Mercy athletics director Neil Judge, was a member of some of the most successful squads in Mercy softball history. As a freshman, her team finished with a stellar 22-7 record. One year later, Pallogudis helped her squad to a 15-9 ledger as a sophomore.
Prior to Mercy, Pallogudis was a standout softball player at Pearl River High School. A 1986 graduate, she had a batting average of .538 and launched a Section 1-leading 10 home runs. Pallogudis also ran track and played soccer. Former Pearl River Athletics Director said, “During my three decades in the Pearl River School District, she was one of the top 10 greatest all-around female athletes that I witnessed play for the Lady Pirates.” Upon graduating from Pearl River, Pallogudis received a full scholarship to play softball at Mercy.
Since leaving the Mercy campus grounds, Pallogudis has had a very successful 22 year teaching career within the Ramapo Central School District. She started off teaching first grade for the first 10 years, then moved to third grade for 10 years. The last two years, Pallogudis has been teaching second graders. Pallogudis and her husband, Tony, have three children – Steven, 16, who attends nearby Clarkstown South High School; Dena, 14, an eighth grader at Felix Festa Middle School; and Luke, 11, currently a fifth grader at Bardonia Elementary School.
