‘Energetic’ Colts Hitting The Diamond

The Half Hollow Hills West Colts, pictured above, are scheduled to face Eastport-South Manor tomorrow.

By Andrew Wroblewski

awroblewski@longislandergroup.com

A new, energetic bunch of Colts is hitting the softball diamond this spring season.

Hills West head coach Bryan Dugan said 10 seniors graduated from last year’s team, and while a few veteran leaders remain, the overall group is “new” and “energetic” and has the Colts’ coaching staff excited.

“There’s reason for optimism,” said Dugan, who is flanked this year by assistant coach, and program newcomer, Katie Marmo. “I’m very, very confident in our defense… and offensively we’re a pretty fast team.”

The Colts took to the field for the first time this season on Friday in a Suffolk League IV/V crossover game against Smithtown East. The Colts fell, 4-1, but Dugan was impressed by what he saw from his team.

“We put the ball in play a lot,” he said. “We had four girls get their first varsity hits. Experience is key in high school sports, and our goal is to continue to get better every day.”

As she was against Smithtown East, Jillian Weinstein is expected to be on the mound for Hills West throughout the season, Dugan said. The hard-throwing junior is working on mixing up her pitches in hopes of not letting opposing hitters get comfortable.

“We’re working on her ability to throw balls, not just strikes,” Dugan said. “We want her to make betters chase. And if they’re going to swing, it’s going to be at her pitch.”

Catching Weinstein this season will be Alexandra Parkas, a senior and five-year varsity player for the Colts.

Parkas, along with Weinstein and junior Rachel Katz are the three returning starters for Hills West this season. With Katz at shortstop, Dugan said he expects the trio to make the Colts “strong up the middle.”

Elsewhere on the field, Dugan said, new faces are sliding into the vacant infield and outfield positions.

Dugan said the remainder of Hills West’s expected infield features Ashley Rodgers, a sophomore, at first base; Kaela Perri, another sophomore, at second; and a platoon of Danielle Blaustein, a senior, and Rebecca Schneider, a sophomore, at third.

As for the outfield, there’s a bit of a competition brewing.

While junior Michelle Kaplan will likely start in center, Dugan said, it will be a competition to fill the corner spots. Junior Allison Snyder; Ashley, a freshman, and Makayla Pugliese, a sophomore; and Amanda Garrison, a junior; are each vying to fill left or right field.

Meanwhile, sophomore Tobi Alper will back up Parkas this year at catcher.

Katie Anatra, a junior outfielder; Carley Auricchio, a junior first baseman; Victoria Hofsiss, a junior outfielder; and Jessica Vivola, a junior outfielder; are also looking to make their marks this season.

The Colts were scheduled to face North Babylon on Wednesday in another League IV/V crossover game. Next up, on Friday they’re scheduled to travel to Eastport-South Manor for a League V/VI crossover game that’s scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.