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Softball: Meet the 2024 lohud Nine Who Shine and best of rest

Debbie Schechter, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
·4 min read

As the watch list has shown, there is no shortage of softball talent in Rockland, Westchester and Putnam counties. So narrowing down the list wasn't easy.

Taking into consideration nominations from coaches, as well as past performances, we present the 2024 lohud Softball Nine Who Shine.

Barbara Jo Coppola

Harrison's Barbara Jo Coppola sprints towards third base.
Harrison's Barbara Jo Coppola sprints towards third base.

School: Harrison

Year: Junior

Position: Catcher

What makes Barbara Jo shine?: She's someone who has been an anchor for the Huskies the last couple of years, garnering All-State honors for the second straight season. Coppola comes into the season after putting up career-highs in just about everything. She batted .493 with 13 doubles, five triples, two home runs, 32 RBIs, 26 runs scored and struck out only once.

Teagan Dwyer

Albertus Magnus' Teagan Dwyer winds up for a pitch during the Nyack Red and Black Tournament finals on Sunday, May 7, 2023.
Albertus Magnus' Teagan Dwyer winds up for a pitch during the Nyack Red and Black Tournament finals on Sunday, May 7, 2023.

School: Albertus Magnus

Year: Junior

Position: Pitcher

What makes Teagan shine?: The ace of the Falcons came on last season, batting .502 with 11 doubles, four triples, three home runs and a team-leading 36 RBIs. Last year's League 3B Pitcher of the Year registered 259 strikeouts and garnered Class B All-State second-team honors.

Gianna Longo

Nyack pitcher Gianna Longo winds up during the Nyack Red and Black Tournament third-place game on Sunday, May 7, 2023.
Nyack pitcher Gianna Longo winds up during the Nyack Red and Black Tournament third-place game on Sunday, May 7, 2023.

School: Nyack

Year: Senior

What makes Longo shine?: Longo is the bedrock of the Red Hawks' team. Last season the STAC-bound senior posted a 1.41 ERA with 161 strikeouts over 119 innings, garnering League 2A Pitcher of the Year. Longo is one of the pitchers who can handle the stick as she batted .400 with five home runs, five doubles, three triples and 32 runs, leading to a Class A All-State selection.

Kiera Luckie

Pearl River's Kiera Luckie (13) connects for a basehit during the opening round of Section 1 Class A softball action against Brewster at Pearl River High School in Pearl River on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Pearl River advances with the 9-0 victory.
Pearl River's Kiera Luckie (13) connects for a basehit during the opening round of Section 1 Class A softball action against Brewster at Pearl River High School in Pearl River on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Pearl River advances with the 9-0 victory.

School: Pearl River

Year: Senior

Position: Pitcher

What makes Kiera shine?: Luckie has been the Pirates' ace for the last couple of years and has been proficient in the circle and with the bat. Last season, she slashed .547/.787/.605, with 15 doubles, a home run, 20 RBIs, 27 runs scored, and only three strike outs. In the circle, in 106 innings pitched, she posted a 1.58 ERA, allowing 17 walks and striking out 17.

Keira Meyers

Keira Meyers of Tappan Zee pitches to Ursuline during the Section 1 Class A softball semifinal championship at North Rockland High School May 27, 2023. Ursuline defeated Tappan Zee 5-3 to win the Class A title.
Keira Meyers of Tappan Zee pitches to Ursuline during the Section 1 Class A softball semifinal championship at North Rockland High School May 27, 2023. Ursuline defeated Tappan Zee 5-3 to win the Class A title.

School: Tappan Zee

Year: Senior

Position: Pitcher

What makes Keira shine?: Meyers is another two-way pitcher, powering the Tappan Zee offense from the leadoff spot. She batted .412 with 12 doubles, three triples, two home runs, 18 RBIs and 30 runs scored. In the circle, she posted a 1.46 ERA with 168 strikeouts over 120 innings, garnering a fourth-team All-State honors in Class A.

Ava Papaleo

UrsulineÕs Ava Papaleo scores during a Section 1 Class A softball semifinal game at Harrison High School May 23, 2023. Ursuline scored three runs in the sixth inning to defeat Harrison 8-5.
UrsulineÕs Ava Papaleo scores during a Section 1 Class A softball semifinal game at Harrison High School May 23, 2023. Ursuline scored three runs in the sixth inning to defeat Harrison 8-5.

School: Ursuline

Year: Sophomore

Position: Outfield

What makes Ava shine?: Papaleo proved last season she is one of the top players in the entire section, leading the Koalas to the Section 1 title and earning Class A third-team All-State honors. The center fielder batted .556 with 27 of her 40 hits going for extra bases (18 doubles, two triples, seven home runs), along with 43 RBIs and 27 stolen bases. She had a .640 on base percentage and a 1.153 slugging percentage.

Clare Picone

Rye Neck's Clare Picone (26) greets Katie Blanch (23) at home plate after her go-ahead home run against Valhalla in the Section 1 Class B semifinals on May 27, 2023.
Rye Neck's Clare Picone (26) greets Katie Blanch (23) at home plate after her go-ahead home run against Valhalla in the Section 1 Class B semifinals on May 27, 2023.

School: Rye Neck

Year: Senior

Position: Catcher

What makes Clare shine?: The Monmouth-bound senior was a beast behind the plate last season, controlling the run game by throwing out 98 percent of the runners. Picone batted .375 with 27 hits, seven home runs and 33 RBIs. She had 272 putouts, leading to third-team Class B All-State honors.

Alexis Tighe

White Plains coach Chris Rowan high-fives Alexis Tighe during the Tigers' win over Albertus Magnus in the Nyack Red and Black Tournament finale.
White Plains coach Chris Rowan high-fives Alexis Tighe during the Tigers' win over Albertus Magnus in the Nyack Red and Black Tournament finale.

School: White Plains

Year: Freshman

Position: Outfield/Pitcher

What makes Alexis shine?: Tighe made the most of her first year on the varsity team, leading the Tigers in batting average (.537), home runs (7) and RBIs (39), and had five doubles, a triple and 17 runs scored.

Gabriella Triano

Harrison High School pitcher Gabriella Triano delivers a pitch against Hendrick Hudson High School, during their softball game in Harrison, May 24, 2022. Hen Hud beat Harrison, 3-1.
Harrison High School pitcher Gabriella Triano delivers a pitch against Hendrick Hudson High School, during their softball game in Harrison, May 24, 2022. Hen Hud beat Harrison, 3-1.

School: Harrison

Year: Senior

Position: Pitcher

What makes Gabriella shine?: The ace of the Huskies continued to anchor the team, not only in the circle but offensively too, garnering fifth-team All-State honors in Class A. The Carnegie Mellon-bound senior posted a 1.79 ERA, allowing only 18 walks with 194 strike-outs. Offensively, she batted .333 with 23 RBIs, four doubles, three home runs and a .919 OPS.

More: Softball: 2024 watchlist for the season

Best of the rest

Katie Attwood, Fr., P, Tuckahoe; Campbell Barrett, Sr., SS, Clarkstown North; Grace Camerlingo, Jr., OF, Clarkstown South; Deirdre Curley, Jr., P, Carmel; Eva Destito, Jr., C, Yorktown; Krista Dwyer, Sr. SS, Clarkstown South; Ava Galligani, Sr., 2B/SS, White Plains; Maddie Geary, Jr., 2B, Albertus Magnus; Sofia Haber, So., P, Ardsley; Maysin Kannapin, Jr., C, Dobbs Ferry; Hannah Leon, So., C/3B, North Rockland; Ava Lichtenberger, Sr., P, Mahopac; Emilia Mancusi, Jr., 3B, Ursuline; Tara Murphy, So., P/OF/SS, North Rockland; Savannah Nordstrom, So., 1B, Tappan Zee; Alyssa Peduto, Jr., SS, Eastchester; Drianna Pena, Sr., OF, Hamilton; Tanner Smith, Sr., P, Valhalla; Callie Sniffen, 1B/C Haldane; Jessica Tejera, Jr., SS, Ursuline.

Twitter: @LoHud_Debbie & @LoHudSoftball

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY softball: 2024 Nine Who Shine and best of rest