Wantagh teen to compete in German softball tourney

Megan Martone, a Wantagh Middle School student, will travel to Germany this summer to represent the United States in an international softball tournament, which runs from July 28 to Aug. 5.

Competing with the 18 and under team, the 14 year old will be one of the youngest athletes on the roster.

Megan will be playing on America's Team, an organization dedicated to providing athletes with opportunities to explore new cultures through sports. The group arranges international tours so that players can compete against local teams while experiencing the host country's culture. Each team is led by college coaches, ensuring a high level of mentorship and competition.

According to Nick Martone, her father and coach, Megan was recruited to play for America's Team during a showcase in Florida last year. For her, the opportunity to compete in another country is an incredible experience.

“I was really excited,” Megan said. “I didn't believe it.”

She said she has played softball since she was 6, and her primary position is catcher, with shortstop as her secondary position. Megan, who is a switch hitter, plays for the Phoenix Fire Fastpitch, a non-profit, Long Island-based travel fast pitch softball program, on the Team PF Showcase Elite. Her father has been coaching the team for three years, but the core group has been together for five years, previously playing under a different organization.

According to her father, Megan has played with athletes from the West Coast to the South and has built lasting friendships with many of them. Martone said playing in Germany should be a smooth transition for his daughter.

“She's been fortunate that she's played in a lot of situations where she's played with kids from all over the country,” Martone said, “and so it's kind of like the next logical step.”

Megan's teammates come from across the country, including Arkansas, Louisiana, West Virginia, South Dakota and Illinois. During the tournament, America's Team — the only U.S. team competing — will face opponents from across Germany, including teams from Deggendorf, Munich and Frankfurt.

Martone said playing overseas with such a talented group of players is an opportunity they couldn’t pass up. He explained that in softball, players remain in the same age division for two years before moving up, whereas in baseball, divisions change annually. As a result, softball players often compete against older opponents for longer periods. While the transition to a higher division can be challenging, Megan has consistently adapted with ease, keeping pace with more experienced players.

“She's always been fast,” Martone said. “She's always had a lot of the basic skills to start with that we work on a regular basis.”

Megan’s focus and determination, her dad noted, have allowed her to compete at such a high level at a young age. She takes the initiative in her training, he said, often asking to practice rather than being told. Whether it's hitting, fielding ground balls, or refining her throws from the catcher’s position to third and second base, she is constantly working on the finer details of the game.

“It’s become a big focus for her,” Martone said. “She plays other sports — she’s played school soccer before, and she plays school volleyball now — but softball has always been her number one.”

Martone said that despite often being the youngest on her team, Megan has never been treated that way. She has seamlessly stepped into her role, earning the respect of her older teammates.

While in Germany, Megan and her teammates will have the opportunity to travel and experience the country’s culture and history. They will land in Munich and visit sites such as Olympic Park, a World War II memorial and Dachau.

“She’s never been out of the country, so this is a great opportunity,” Martone said, adding that he and his wife will be traveling with her.

Megan credited much of her growth in softball to Tonya Wyss, the head director and coach of her organization.

“I’ve grown up being coached by her along with my parents,” Megan said. “She’s taught me a lot of great things about softball and things that I can continue to use.”

Martone said that seeing her wear red, white and blue while playing abroad is a unique and special opportunity.

“It makes us proud of her for all the hard work she’s put in to be recognized,” he said. “But most of all, I just want her to enjoy playing the game she loves.”