East Meadow softball charts a new era this spring with a longtime assistant coach and former standout Jets’ player looking to bring the program back to championship heights.
Becky Mattia, an All-State third baseman at East Meadow in the early 2000s, assumed the head coaching position of her alma mater after 14 years in the dugout as an assistant coach.
“It means the world to me as I’m so lucky that I get to coach where I went to high school,” said Mattia, who was part of a coaching staff that led East Meadow to two state championships and six county titles. “I feel very blessed because I was under two really good head coaches in Stu Fritz and Frank Baglivo.”
Mattia inherited a team that went 8-8 on Conference IV and fell to Division in the first round of the Class AA playoffs with a largely young roster.
The Jets’ pitching staff is led by freshman Grace Moone, who has made strides after earning varsity experience as an eighth grader. Moone recorded eight strikeouts in East Meadow’s season-opening 16-0 romp at Herricks on March 21.
Junior shortstop Gabi Shephard is another pitching option Mattia can turn to when needed who is the team’s leading hitter batting close to .600. Shephard is also one of the team’s top base runners with electric speed.
“She’s very consistent,” said Mattia of Shephard , who went 2-for-2 at the plate in a 17-5 loss at Hicksville on March 23. “She gets on base and she will make her way to third base pretty quick as she is very smart on the bases.”
Sophomore catcher Ali Barnwell has emerged as one of the team’s top hitters after a strong freshman season both on offense and behind the plate. Barnell knocked in a run in the Hicksville loss.
Senior first baseman Katelyn Coffey produced plenty of power last year and Mattia is hoping to get her back in the lineup soon after she suffered an ACL injury during soccer season in the fall.
Gianna Ventura, a senior center fielder, is another veteran leader on the field who can get her way on base as a top bunter and slasher to go along with strong base stealing abilities.
East Meadow entered the week 1-3 overall and 0-2 in Conference II. The Jets visit Farmingdale Friday for 10 a.m. first pitch and then head to Catholic League power Kellenberg Saturday for a challenging non-league game at 11 a.m.
The Jets are assured of a postseason spot for the Class AA playoffs and Mattia is hoping a challenging conference schedule will prepare them well for key games in May.
“This conference is not easy as every game is a battle so it will be a good test for us and hopefully gets us ready for the playoffs,” Mattia said. “Our expectations are to just keep getting better and better and better because I want us to be playing great softball at the end of April and beginning of May.”
