Eight returnees and two solid pitchers lead 40+ girls trying out for PCHS softball

March 20, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

Senior Kathleen Scarola was the starting pitcher in this week’s scrimmage against Blind Brook. She and sophomore Melina Morban are the Lady Rams’ only two pitchers. (Lennon Anderson/Westmore News)

The arms race is on—and the Port Chester Lady Rams softball team is off in a windmilling whirl of motion.

That means as the final spring season practices wound down earlier this week, veteran head coach Jeanine Maiolini was still trying to figure out her starting lineup based on one of the highest number of student-athletes to try out for the team in years with more than 40 candidates including eight players with previous varsity experience.

The trouble is there is an arms shortage with just two pitchers in the mix.

Arms 'key to success'

Whether that will be enough remains to be seen because pitching is "the key to success at this level" in fast pitch softball, according to Maiolini.

But the answer to that question will come soon enough because the first away game was scheduled for after press time Wednesday (3/20) against White Plains and the first home game is set for Friday (3/22) against Sleepy Hollow at 4:30 p.m.

So Maiolini will have her first inkling of what's what after her team gets its first double dose of a test against one of the area's best large schools (White Plains) as well as a solid small school in Sleepy Hollow.

Tilting at windmills

But Port Chester pitching has been lacking in the past because pitching lessons can be expensive and require an extensive time commitment before a thrower can become capable of doing more than tilt at windmills while windmill pitching with any degree of expertise.

So, as the arms go and throw, so go the Lady Rams, and so far Maiolini likes what she has seen from sophomore lefty Melina Morban with senior outfielder Kathleen Scarola offering to step into the rotation.

Maiolini accentuates the positives that include a returning varsity nucleus revolving around Scarola and Morban with seniors expected to play leading roles including Tabby Sanchez and Kimberly Ventura, juniors Karah Provenzano, Heidi Gonzalez, and Tamara Correia and sophomore Sofia Greco.

Newcomers to the program who are expected to crash the varsity lineup include juniors Fatima Coyt, Isabella Rivera, Marisa Rodrigues, Morgan Saunders, Fiona Lovallo, Brooke Federici and Alison Lopez as well as sophomore Yvonne Santiago.

The selection process

Maiolini, a former college athletic scholarship infielder at nationally-ranked Hofstra who has turned around the losing Port Chester softball culture, described the process that went into selecting the current Lady Rams.

"We had more than 40 girls sign up to try out for the softball program this year, and this was the highest number we have had in a very long time," she said. "We held a 3-day extensive tryout where we were able to evaluate the girls in all areas of the game and group them accordingly. This was also the first time I had upperclassmen sign up to play softball who have not played the previous seasons. Throughout the tryout, a few kids had dropped out on their own as well as girls who could not commit to the 2-and-a-half-month season whether it be because of work responsibilities or travel volleyball practices. That left us with 32 that we divided into two teams."

Maiolini factored into that choice the way those teams would help shape the future of the rebuilding program.

Eye on future, present

"It was important to me not to have any juniors staying down on the JV to potentially take playing time away from the 9th/10th graders who will need that JV practice/game experience to develop and prepare them for the varsity team," she explained. "With that being said, the varsity includes a big roster. I expressed to the girls that we will have starters, subs, and practice players. I will continually communicate these roles with my team, and they know that I am an open book and have an open door policy when it comes to my players."

In the recent past, Maiolini has had some exceptional players like the Ostrowski sisters (Brooklyn and Madison, both playing for Villanova on athletic scholarships) and Kayleigh Heckel, the point guard committed to play for the University of Southern California. But they were hitters extraordinaire with batting averages in the .500 range on the season. But even their teams came up short when it came to pitching.

"In recent years we lacked pitchers, and when it comes to fastpitch softball, that is truly the key to success at this level," Maiolini said. "I talk to the girls every year about this, but it is hard to get girls to commit to the process and take pitching lessons in the off-season whether it be time commitment or financial reasons. Even if we aren't winning as many games as we all would like, we work hard we get our reps and we do it while enjoying each other's company. That's what it's about—having fun, improving our game, and mostly making memories for a lifetime."

The roster possibilities

Then she gave a quick verbal sketch of the players who will play a major role in shaping those memories.

Morban, for example, “has stepped up and started taking pitching lessons recently and has been doing really well," according to Maiolini. And "Scarola is also warming up and taking reps to help the team out when needed in the circle. But as far as a catcher, it is going to be extremely hard to replace Jenna Provenzano behind the plate. Her experience and presence are going to be very difficult to come close to (she was the school's outstanding female athlete last year and is attending the University of Rhode Island). We are still working on finding a catcher for this season and will hopefully find that player or players soon."

As far as the infield is concerned, Maiolini believes the team has options in multiple positions.

"Tamara Correia, for instance, played an excellent 1B for us last year and has the height and ability to pick the ball," Maiolini said. "Sofia Greco and Fatima Coyt have been taking reps at 2B, and Karah Provenzano has a great glove and strong arm for shortstop.” Heidi Gonzalez and newcomer Yvonne Santiago have been taking reps at 3B with Santiago being what Maiolini describes as "a pleasant surprise because she comes to the varsity team with a strong arm and athletic ability."

Talented outfielders galore

The outfield is well stocked with possible starters: Ventura, Sanchez, and Scarola are the three returning seniors who have experience playing there last season, Maiolini said. "And Fiona Lovallo and Marisa Rodriguez have also impressed me, Fiona can track a ball and is fast and Marisa gets a great jump on the ball as well. Other players who can possibly step up in the outfield are Morgan Saunders (one of the varsity swim team aces), Brooke Federici (an outstanding varsity tennis singles player), Alison Lopez, and the versatile Skylar Sams.

"Sky is an all-around athlete (basketball, volleyball, Track & Field) who can play multiple positions, but her time with the softball team will be limited because of her commitment to volleyball which is the main sport that she wants to pursue in college," according to Maiolini.

So far, the Lady Rams have been looking good during the pre-season workouts. But there is a big difference between practice and the pressure that comes from playing a varsity game.

"In practice, these girls swing the bat and when they make contact they are crushing the ball," Maiolini said. "It's the pressure of the 'game' that could throw them off. If I can get them to buy into their ability and boost their self-esteem, the sky is the limit offensively."

White Plains and Sleepy Hollow loom as the first dual test to the Lady Rams’ bats as well as their arms. And the results of those games will give Maiolini a better idea of what kind of team she has.