The Huntington High School softball program is looking to turn the corner this spring as the Blue Devils strive to attain consistency and to become more competitive.
Two-thirds of the Huntington coaching staff is new with physical education teachers Eric Mininni and Alex Nelson joining the Blue Devil softball fold. Mininni will serve as longtime varsity head coach John Walsh’s assistant while Nelson will coach the junior varsity team.
Walsh is excited about this year’s team, which consists exclusively of underclassmen. The group includes freshmen Adriana Abbatiello, Kathryn Barba, Jacqueline Gutierrez and Ruby Meidenman; sophomores Allison Malone, Gabriella Miller and Haileigh Smith; and juniors Madelyn Bavaro, Teddi Carnesi, Cynthia Contreras, Jasjeet Kaur, Victoria Mangan, Kathryn Sansiviero and Sophia Toscano.
The Blue Devils have experienced some lean years with victories hard to come by, but not for a lack of trying. Walsh and Mininni and the 14 underclassmen who comprise this year’s team are looking to be consistently competitive and ultimately be win more games.
A late rush of interest helped fill out the varsity and JV rosters. The JV has many first time players, but Nelson isn’t complaining. It’s a nice group that has been working well together. It, too, hopes to win some games before the season is over. That will only add to the fun.
The JV roster features freshmen Genesis Acevedo, Jacqueline Gutierrez, Nathalia Hernandez, Yuliana Hernandez-Perla and Jessica Maixner; junior Cynthia Contreras; and seniors Brenda Acevedo, Angie Mata, Emily Ramirez-Bravo and Katia Sanchez Fuentes.
Several players are expected to see action on both the varsity and JV levels as the two teams require for their respective games.
The varsity and JV teams both have a full complement of games scheduled into June.
Interested in playing for the Blue Devils? Send a message to Coach Walsh at jwalsh@hufsd.edu.