Thursday, October 1, 2026
Coming into the season, Valley Stream Central had a fairly inexperienced team with many on the roster having only played softball for less than five years.
But, following a 14-2 record a year ago, there was a sense of excitement as this season began because the on-the-job training over the last few years has paid off.
“I was very excited and very hopeful,” said coach Gina Brick who is in her first season on the job after two years as the JV coach. “They have just this raw talent that somehow just works for us. I was excited to get to learn some of the girls who I didn’t have (at JV) and see how they play,” she added.
Playing in a very competitive Conference 5 with teams like East Rockaway and Lynbrook can be challenging, but the Eagles are off to a 7-5 record after winning two out of three games last week. Following a 20-2 loss to Lynbrook, Valley Stream Central defeated Lawrence 24-9 and followed that up with a 28-11 victory over Jericho.
“I am pleasantly surprised with how they have played and how they have carried themselves this season,” Brick said. “I know their ability to play the game. You have to have softball IQ and sometimes that comes with experience of playing for many years.”
And the new Eagles coach is going to have a number of her top players coming back next season including junior shortstop Simran Kaur.
“She’s the kind of player who sets the tone for us every day,” Brick said. “Her work ethic and leadership are what this team is built on. When the game is on the line, she’s the one you want at the plate.”
Behind the plate is sophomore catcher Rita Teehan, one of the smartest players on the team.
“Her ability to read the game and make adjustments makes her incredibly valuable,” Brick said.
On the mound, the Eagles will look to Sidney Torres to eat up a lot of innings…and she is just a freshman so she’s only going to get better.
“She brings a sense of calm to the circle that really settles the whole team,” Brick said. “Her composure out there is something we all feed off.”
Some of the other outstanding players include senior center fielder Analia Sierra, sophomore pitcher/outfielder Jaskiran Kaur, senior right fielder Vanessa Wilson, sophomore third baseman Sierra Roman, senior first baseman Serena Souvenance, freshman second baseman Zara Paulino and sophomore second baseman Seerat Tung.
“This team is very young so I’ll have them for the next couple of years,” Brick said. “We’re building a program and not just a season so to be able to get them so young and work with them, they are going to build together.”
The Eagles are home Friday to entertain Valley Stream South at 5 p.m.
