The 2010 softball season at Lehman College is right around the corner, as the team will enter the new campaign poised to improve following a year in which the club posted just a 3-28 overall mark and failed to qualify for the CUNYAC playoffs. Recognizing this year's group will be difficult for fans that followed last year's club – as many things have changed since the end of the 2009 campaign – including the coaching staff as well as the roster.
The changes started at the top following last season, as former Lightning head coach Joanna Quirindongo – who skippered the softball team for two years – was replace by John Pisano, who was hired as coach back on August 10th. Pisano's background in softball is extensive. From 1994 until present day, Pisano has served as the head coach of the New York Panthers, a travel team which is part of a non-profit organization which helps promote and develop aspiring softball players in the metropolitan area. During his time as the skipper of the Panthers, he has helped numerous girls hone their mental and physical skills before seeing them advance to play collegiate ball.
In addition to his work with the Panthers, the new Lightning coach has been an integral member of the coaching staff for the Fontbonne Hall Academy Bonnies since 2000. From 2001-2004, he served as the Bonnies' head coach, and from 2005 until present day, he has served as an assistant coach and a consultant. During his nine years at the high school, the club has won three Brooklyn championships. Pisano is looking forward to the challenge of turning the softball program at Lehman College around.
“There is certainly a lot of work that has to be done here, there is no question about that,” Pisano said. “I'm looking forward to being a part of the rebuilding process in terms of this program. Early on, the players are going to play and I'm going to see what I have, and then as the season progresses there will be more and more structure, but basically, every player is going to have a chance to prove that they can contribute and help this team win. Every girl will have an equal opportunity to impress me. It's going to take some time but I feel as though we can surprise some people this year.”
Joining Pisano's coaching staff will be Eric Harrison who will log on to Pisano's staff as an assistant. Harrison also serves as Lehman College's women's basketball's head coach. The women's basketball associate head coach – Ivelisse Rosario – will log on as a volunteer assistant. The presences of Harrison and Rosario will likely serve as positives – as a handful of Lehman College's women's basketball players will make the transition to softball – and those players certainly will benefit from familiar voices in addition to the newly-appointed and motivated Pisano.
Two players returning to the team for the 2010 season will be staff workhorse Natalie Martinez as well as the versatile Vania Cadet. Those two players played their hearts out for the Lightning last season, and both have been anointed team captains. Martinez appeared in 19 games last season for the Lightning last season and sacrificed greatly for the squad, serving as one of only two pitchers Lehman College used after Kristen Lo Bianco suffered a season-ending injury after appearing in just two games. Martinez started 16 games, including 12 complete games – striking out 53 batters. Vania Cadet was one of the Lightning's best hitters – playing and starting in all 31 of Lehman's contests and hitting .329 while leading the team with 27 hits and 23 runs scored while placing second in assists with 28. Her plate patience saw her draw 11 walks – tying her for second-best on the squad.
One other player that will be back in the fold for the Lightning will be Luz Garcia who struggled during the 2009 campaign but has been working hard in the off-season and will hope to have a positive impact on the team last season. Her attitude and her work ethic have been tremendous according to Pisano – and she is looking forward to the season.
The rest of the team consists of new players who will be looking to make an impact and help the team win some games. Racine Brown – who played on the women's volleyball team during the fall – will anchor the rotation alongside Martinez. Five players who played on the 2009-2010 women's basketball team – including Kelsey Ash, Simone Byrd, Alicia McDaniel, Taniefa Taylor, and Bethany Rodriguez – will join the fray and hope to exemplify their talents in a sport other than basketball.
Rounding out the newcomers include Samantha Baez, Jennifer Mena, Claribel Herrera, and Ashley Falcon. Pisano believes he will have many options in terms of setting a lineup and a defense this year, as a majority of the roster consists of players who are versatile and can do multiple things to help the team win.
“I'm excited about the durability of this group,” Pisano said. “We're going to have a fast team and we're going to have a group of ladies who will be able to play multiple positions, and then you have that, it really gives you a tremendous amount of options. The ladies have been working hard, they are spirited, and they improve with every practice. I'm very excited for this upcoming season.”
The Lightning will begin their season with a doubleheader against SUNY Purchase on the road on Friday afternoon, March 12th, and following that pair of non-conference contests, Lehman College will begin a six-game home-stand against Mount St. Mary's (doubleheader on March 15th), USMMA King's Point (two games on March 16th) and the College of St. Elizabeth (two games on March 20th). The Lightning will then open the conference portion of their schedule on March 23rd when the team will serve as the road club on its home field against Baruch College, as the teams will lock horns in a doubleheader. The Lightning then complete the month of March with a six-game road trip, taking on SUNY Purchase in a doubleheader on March 25th before battling Hunter College twice on March 27th and then playing a pair against the Yellow Jackets of New York City College of technology on March 30th. The remainder of the schedule can be viewed by clicking here.
All in all, it promises to be a very interesting season at Lehman College. New head coach John Pisano brings two decades of softball experience with him to Lehman College, and he is eager to get the best out of his players every single day.
