The Huntington softball team hopes to be much more competitive this coming spring than it has been in recent years.
The Blue Devils have battled through hard times. Huntington compiled a 1-19 record last spring. Naturally, the coaches and players found that tough to deal with, but they got through it together. Everyone believes a more successful campaign is on the horizon.
Huntington is still a young team. The Blue Devils graduated only one senior off last year’s roster. Head coach John Walsh, who will once again be assisted by Jim Byrnes, expects to see his returning players showing improvement when they take the field for the first practice in March.
The Blue Devils are returning pitcher Maya DelGiudice along with Jocelyn Gray, Isabella Toscano, Alexandra Gerbavsits, Lia Shechter, Anna Wickey, Erin Bonitz and Morgan Minicozzi to the varsity team.
“I think our team will greatly improve this season,” Wickey said. “Although our team is young, we have lots of potential.”
The Blue Devils have home and away contests scheduled with North Babylon, Deer Park, West Islip and Centereach along with games against Eastport-South Manor, Bellport, Comsewogue, Half Hollow Hills West, Half Hollow Hills East, West Babylon, Smithtown East, Smithtown West, Newfield and Copiague. Huntington opens league play on March 26 at North Babylon.
“I believe that we can use last year’s experience to improve this year,” DelGiudice said. “There are some new girls with a lot of potential.”
Last year’s junior varsity team went winless in 12 games. It also featured many young players. The season-ending JV roster included Annalise Alleyne, Vanessa Bonilla, Jacqueline Canton-Guarda, Emily Ferreira, Reyna Garcia, Yasmin Khilji-Neal, Rose Marie Lopez, Madeline Meidenman, Andriana Messina, Abigail Troiano, Kelly Vilorio, Kayla Williams and Emily Yonkes.
Walsh is striving to piece together a winning squad. He’s not ready to announce anyone’s position just yet, although he’s sure that DelGiudice will once again be on the mound.
