Malverne builds off 13-win 2023

The Malverne softball team had to slog its way through the first few games of the season due to the inclement weather that’s plagued Long Island in recent weeks, and the early results have been positive.
The Mules took two of their first three Conference 6 games and sat 2-2 overall as the calendar turned to April. Rain-shortened games and postponements have been the norm the last couple of weeks, but the team is starting to regain its mojo after winning nine of its last 11 games in 2023 to finish 13-6.
“Our goal is to be better than last year,” coach Nick Moreno said. “Every year, we want to be better than the year before. We lost our two biggest hitters last year, but we have girls that we believe can step it up and take over for them and do the same thing.”
After dropping its non-conference opener and falling 18-9 to Friends Academy on March 22 to open the conference portion of the schedule, Malverne got a late base hit from junior third baseman Olivia Jenkins in a 5-4, five-inning comeback win at Uniondale on March 25 before pummeling Roosevelt 16-2 in four innings two days later behind three hits and three RBIs from Jenkins.
“I wasn’t ever doubtful that we wouldn’t come back,” Moreno said of the Uniondale game. “Nirvana [starting pitcher Cole] had a great game. Now we’re starting to get the bats going, and that’s what happened with the Roosevelt game. We were finally able to swing the bat [and] get some runs on the board. I don’t know how many runs we would’ve scored if we kept on going.”

Cole fanned 18 batters against Uniondale and is already poised for a breakout senior season with 25 strikeouts in just 11 innings. She has even had to do a little extra to pick up the defense.
“She’s going to be dominant all year,” Moreno said. “Even in the last game, those are two unearned runs. In one game, she had five strikeouts in an inning and we couldn’t throw girls out on a dropped third strike. She can pitch every game for me. I’m really looking for great numbers from her.”
Senior catcher Raya Harrison will set the table in the leadoff spot and went 3-for-3 with two runs scored against Uniondale. Speedy tri-captain Luz Rodriguez, another senior, was a .300 hitter last spring and Moreno is hoping she can excel further hitting after Harrison while still providing great defense in center field.
Senior tri-captain Anyely Rijo was a newcomer to softball last year, but still hit .400 with 14 RBI and 17 runs scored. She is the new cleanup hitter in front of junior first baseman Olivia Brown, who went 3-for-3 with three RBIs against Roosevelt.
Junior Nathaly Uribe and senior Daniela Brito will flank Rodriguez in the outfield and sophomore Kaylie Gonzalez is the starting second baseman. Freshman Lea Cardenas will also see time at first base and senior Allison Martinez is one of the team’s better defensive players.