Thursday, October 1, 2026
Following a 10-9 record and quarterfinal loss to Mepham in the Nassau Class AA softball playoffs, Carey will lean heavily on senior pitcher/third baseman Andrea Arias this spring.
Arias earned All-County honors in 2025 and was 15th Team All-State. She leads a young group that happens to have lots of experience.
“When she went, we went,” coach Anthony Turco said of Arias. “I think she was second in the County Player of the Year voting last year, and I think she should’ve got it. She’ll be my three or four batter and can hit to all fields and for power. I’m really, really surprised that colleges haven’t really recruited her at a higher level.”
Arias is one of the team’s four captains. Joining her is senior left fielder Emily Almachi, senior shortstop/third baseman Paige Agate and senior center fielder Devon Barley.
“Just their leadership qualities and experience, [as well as] them each being able to bring something different to the table,” Turco said. “I think they are four different softball players. [Amongst them] You’re talking 14 years of experience and they bring a different leadership role.”
The lineup features a healthy mix of power, contact and speed. It’s the versatility that Carey ‘hasn’t had in a while,’ Turco said.
“I think our lineup one through six or seven is going to be really solid,” he said. “Barley is a lefty slapper with speed and will lead off. [Junior second baseman] Madison Bourne is another lefty with speed, hitting second. Agate, an All-County player, will hit third and gives us great contact. Then you’ve got Arias for power, Ava Dubin [junior EH], who can hit for power, and Almachi, who can go gap-to-gap. Brianna Roberts [senior first baseman] adds power as well. We’re pretty balanced.
“We want speed at the top to get on base, then contact hitters to move runners, and power in the middle,” Turco added. “But I mix things up depending on who’s hot. I’ve even hit some of our speed players lower in the lineup because you only lead off once, so it’s about maximizing at-bats.”
On March 26, Carey earned its first victory in Conference 2 with a 10-9 win over Farmingdale in comeback fashion. The Seahawks jumped out to an early two-run lead, but that was quickly erased with a seven-run inning from Farmingdale.
“We chipped away at the lead and tied it up in the sixth inning, and gave it right back by giving up a two-run home run to go down 9-7,” Turco said. “In the top of the seventh, Barely led off with a hit and Bourne followed that up with a walk. Arias hit a three-run home run. [Then sophomore] Kristen Peers closed out the seventh for the win.”
The Seahawks beat East Meadow, 7-1, March 31, for their second conference win in as many games. Almache and Roberts both drove in a pair of runs to back the pitching of Arias.
“Team-first,” Turco said regarding the hopeful identity. “Playing for each other and having an approach every pitch, every at-bat. That’s something we’ve really emphasized.”
