Wallkill Valley softball team kept battling

A game played May 13 showed the resilience and focus that the Wallkill Valley Regional High School softball team demonstrated all season.

“One of the games that stands out the most for us is our game against Newton in the Darren Manser Memorial Kittatinny Tournament,’’ head coach Sarah Ablahani said.

“This was our third time playing against Newton and we had previously lost both games by a decent margin of runs. In this third contest against them, after struggling against a gritty Kittatinny in game one of the tournament, we came back out and worked hard to hang with this team that had previously gotten the best of us.

“Starting down 5-0, we battled back to within one run for the last three innings, out-hitting Newton 10-7 but ultimately falling short by a final score of 10-9.

“The most significant part of this game was the fight that our team showed to not give up and continue battling for all seven innings. While we may not have gotten the final result we’d hoped for and worked for, the fight in the team was one of the best displays we’d seen of the season.’’

Leadership was at a premium throughout the spring for the Rangers.

“Jackie Schels and Giana Carreiro were two of the biggest standouts in leadership this season,’’ Ablahani said. “Jackie, our center fielder, is the last person to seek credit or recognition but just silently shows up day after day, putting in her best effort, striving to improve and doing all she can to help her team. She became known for her diving catches out in center and consistently hit above .500 (and above .600 in many weeks of the season) to lead our offense as our leadoff batter.

“Giana really stepped up as a vocal leader in the field at second base, consistently talking to her field and hyping up her pitcher, making sure everyone knew what the play was and doing her best to keep the morale high no matter the circumstances of the game. She also led our offense with a .500 or higher average throughout the season and demonstrated daily why she remained our cleanup hitter for the duration of the season.’’

A freshman on the roster was among the most improved student athletes this year.

“One of our most improved players of the season was Kaylee Fagan,’’ the coach said. “As a freshman catcher, she had big shoes to fill this season and really stepped up to the challenge. Each game, her voice got louder and more confident, her blocking and framing skills improved, and we watched her at-bats show more confidence and strength.’’

The Rangers finished with a 5-15 overall record, placing fourth in the Colonial Division of the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference.

“While we are losing three very impactful seniors (Erin Anderson at first base, Giana Carreiro at second base and Ashley Roccisano at pitcher), we have five juniors and four freshmen who will be returning to anchor our varsity team and help any newcomer varsity players transition between the levels,’’ Ablahani said.

“Additionally, we have many young players on JV (junior varsity) that are hungry for the opportunity to step up and earn positions that are being vacated this year.’’