Familiar faces all around for John Jay softball

John Jay coach Steve DelMoro has a veteran team returning hoping for a big year. JIM MACLEAN PHOTOS

Riley Foote returns on the mound for John Jay.

By JIM MACLEAN

John Jay softball coach Steve DelMoro admits he has a problem entering the new season.

DelMoro returns for his eighth season at the helm for John Jay. He has only two seniors on the roster, but youth and inexperience is not the problem. A lack of talent is not the problem. The Wolves were 13-9 overall last season with several returning starters across the field, but DelMoro sees a problem that he is trying to figure out before the Wolves hit the diamond for the season opener.

“We have a lot of depth, making out the lineup is going to be the hard part. I guess that’s a good problem to have,” DelMoro said. “We’re young and talented, and that’s a good combo to have. We have a lot of girls back, 14 returning varsity players, so we’re looking for a competitive varsity season this year.”

John Jay was on a roll at the end of last season, putting together a six-game winning streak where the Wolves allowed just one run, before falling in the Section 1 quarterfinals to eventual Class A champion Pearl River.

That strong finish and a tough loss to the eventual champs has inspired a young team to work hard and come back even stronger ready to challenge them all on the diamond this season. John Jay has reason for optimism, starting with the arms on the mound with pitchers Riley Foote and Maria DeGaetano both returning. Even though they are only sophomores, they both shined on the mound last year for the Wolves.

“Both of them are really solid pitchers, I’m confident putting them in any situation to come in and throw strikes,” DelMoro said of Foote and DeGaetano.

It doesn’t stop there as John Jay has young returning starters all around the field, including junior shortstop Laney Daly and junior center fielder Bella Barry, along with sophomore catcher/third baseman Carys Cooper. 

“Honestly, all three of them are just plug and play anywhere we need them, great players, great leaders, such great energy, better kids than players,” DelMoro said of his returning trio.

The rest of the lineup is deep, full of returning varsity starters and varsity players ready to take on a bigger role. Junior Maggie Lawton and ninth-graders Charlotte Bender and Elise Templeton all return with a year of varsity experience behind them. It is a good problem to have as DelMoro tries to make the best of his talented roster. The Wolves have so many talented young players and the numbers were so good that John Jay was able to field a varsity and junior varsity team again this spring. Another sign of a bright future for the program hoping to have another winning season.

“We just want to get better every day right now, definitely looking to improve and compete in every game,” DelMoro said of his team. “It’s a great group of girls. I can’t say enough good things about the quality of kids we have this year, everyone is excited and dialed in. 

John Jay was set to open the season at home against local rival Somers on Friday. The Wolves then host Sleepy Hollow on Tuesday, April 1, to kick off the season with a pair of home games.

Hopefully, DelMoro said, the Wolves can get off to a fast start for what could be a memorable season on the diamond for John Jay.

“Somers is always a good test, a tough game,” added DelMoro. “Our section is always good, always good pitching, we know that there are a lot of good teams out there and we’ve got to attack and come ready to play and give it our best every game.”