Monday, May 19, 2025
The season started on March 27 against Oceanside. But for the Massapequa softball team, the seeds were sown at the most magical place on Earth shortly after that 3-1 loss.
It was a trip to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World where the team’s camaraderie took shape. From a dinner at Planet Hollywood to touring Epcot and Magic Kingdom and a scavenger hunt at the team hotel, a bond was formed.
“They love each other, they love spending time together, which is awesome.,” Chiefs coach Christina Castellani said. “These girls off the field, they just can’t get enough of each other. They have sleepovers every Saturday night, they go out to eat together. It’s something special that [assistant coach Mike] Spina and I can’t force. It just happens organically.”
Part of that also includes a peer-mentoring program called “big littles,” where returning upperclassmen help the younger players get acclimated to varsity softball.
“They give them little gift baskets at the beginning of the season, and it’s just someone that they have, a peer to go to or maybe talk about their struggles or how they’re feeling on or off the field,” she said. “It has really worked out very nicely.”
After the loss to the Sailors, which was a meeting of the top two preseason seeds and was a rematch of last year’s Class AAA final, won by Oceanside, Massapequa captured nine of the next 11 games.
“We’re trying to figure out puzzle pieces, but from game one to where we are now, lots of improvements,” Castellani said. “The girls are growing as players, they’re constantly learning. We teach them to always be students of the game. The goal is to have them ready to go come playoff time.”
Maeve Schiereck is Massapequa’s most dangerous hitter, with the Stony Brook-commit already belting seven home runs on the season as the No. 2 hitter behind shortstop Madison Tucholski.
Freshman Sienna Erker is the starting second baseman and No. 3 hitter, seamlessly transitioning to varsity softball.
“Nothing seems to faze her,” Castellani said.
Samantha Portz, who has been stellar in the outfield along with Sami Ciccia, is the cleanup hitter. The Amherst College commit hit .316 a year ago.
The corner infielders, Samantha Dolan at first base, and Naomi Tesoriere at third, have been solid defensively.
And Castellani has leaned on a strong trio in the circle, led by ace Shea Santiago and featuring Alexa O’Mallon and Annalisa Kohn.
As one of four Class AAA teams in the top ability based conference, Massapequa’s spot in the playoffs is already guaranteed. It’s just a question of the seeding. And while there’s a mix of returning players and newcomers to varsity, a few remain from the team that won the program’s third county and second Long Island championship two years ago.
“We’re absolutely in contention again,” Castellani said. “Our goal is to always get back to the counties, win counties, and keep moving forward. We know we have a lot of work ahead of us.”
