Softball: See who made the 2023 lohud Nine Who Shine watch list

Eugene Rapay, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
·4 min read

A couple of games have been played already, but for the rest of the Lower Hudson Valley this is the opening week of the softball season.

Below is our list of 95 players from Westchester, Rockland and Putnam to keep an eye on this season. They are also candidates, per coaches' recommendations, for the annual Journal News/lohud Nine Who Shine, which identifies the best returning talent in the Lower Hudson Valley.

There is no shortage of talent on the softball field, with plenty of returning all-section and all-state standouts, and others ready to break out.

The final selections for the Nine Who Shine — as well as the first set of softball team rankings — will be unveiled early next week.

Rye Neck's Katie Blanch winds up for the pitch. Rye Neck defeated Albertus Magnus, 4-3, to win the Section 1 Class B softball title at North Rockland High School on May 29, 2022.
Rye Neck's Katie Blanch winds up for the pitch. Rye Neck defeated Albertus Magnus, 4-3, to win the Section 1 Class B softball title at North Rockland High School on May 29, 2022.

Scoreboard: Scores, schedule, results and more from the opening week of the high school softball season

2023 lohud Nine Who Shine watch list

Adrianna Albano, Sr., SS, Yorktown

Leaila Alexander, So., SS, Ossining

Sophia Aqeel, Fr., 1B/C, North Salem

Cat Arnold, Jr., SS, Pearl River

Cam Barrett, Jr., SS, Clarkstown North

Sophia Bartko, Sr., P/CF, Ardsley

Erin Baumeister, Jr., P, Croton-Harmon

Cameryn Bell, Sr., 1B, Dobbs Ferry

Katie Blanch, Sr., P, Rye Neck

Sofia Boncardo, Sr., C, Ursuline

Lily Caldara, Sr., C, Ardsley

Angelina Carbone, 8th, C/INF, Hen Hud

Alyssa Chiappa, Fr., C, Tappan Zee

Catie Cho, Sr., P/SS, Hastings

Gianna Cilenti, Sr., CF, Tappan Zee

Tappan Zee's Gianna Cilenti reacts to being called safe during her walk-off game-winning hit. Tappan Zee defeated Hen Hud, 3-2, in nine innings during the Section 1 Class A championship game at North Rockland High School on May 29, 2022.
Tappan Zee's Gianna Cilenti reacts to being called safe during her walk-off game-winning hit. Tappan Zee defeated Hen Hud, 3-2, in nine innings during the Section 1 Class A championship game at North Rockland High School on May 29, 2022.

Katie Cole, Fr., 3B, Somers

Alexis Conigliaro, Jr., P, Byram Hills

Barbara Jo Coppola, So., C, Harrison

Alexia Cozzali, Jr., SS, Harrison

Siena DeCicco, Fr., CF, Clarkstown North

Eva Destito, So., C, Yorktown

Emily Duhaney, Sr., P, Ursuline

Teagan Dwyer, So., P, Albertus Magnus

Krista Dwyer, Jr., P/OF, C. South

Willow Edwards, So., P/OF, Rye Country Day

Allie Falesto, Jr., CF, Albertus Magnus

Mandy Fernandez, Sr., SS, Carmel

Carmel shortstop Mandy Fernandez (7) pulls in a ground ball during softball action against Arlington at Camel High School in Carmel on Tuesday, April 26, 2022.
Carmel shortstop Mandy Fernandez (7) pulls in a ground ball during softball action against Arlington at Camel High School in Carmel on Tuesday, April 26, 2022.

Ellie Fredman, Jr., CF, Croton-Harmon

Krista Gallagher, Sr., 1B, Somers

Ava Galligani, So., 2B, White Plains

Maddie Geary, So., 2B, Albertus Magnus

Hannah Getman, Sr., CF, Fox Lane

Serena Gillen, So., P, White Plains

White Plains pitcher Serena Gillen (12) delivers a pitch during their 1-0 10-inning win over Ursuline. White Plains defeats Ursuline 1-0 in softball action at White Plains High School in White Plains on Saturday, April 16, 2022.
White Plains pitcher Serena Gillen (12) delivers a pitch during their 1-0 10-inning win over Ursuline. White Plains defeats Ursuline 1-0 in softball action at White Plains High School in White Plains on Saturday, April 16, 2022.

Vanessa Gonzalez, So., C, Albertus Magnus

Halle Greaige, Sr., C, Blind Brook

Sophia Haber, Fr., P/SS/1B, Ardsley

Ariana Hammer, Jr., SS, Rye Neck

Andy Hegarty, So., P, Hackley

Ava Jacobs, Fr., 3B, North Rockland

Paige Johannsen, Sr., OF, Hen Hud

Peri Kahn, Sr., 3B, White Plains

Maysin Kannapin, So., C, Dobbs Ferry

Ashley Kessner, Sr., CF, Rye

Jordynn Killion, Sr., 3B/SS, Fox Lane

Gianna Lafaro, Jr., C, Mahopac

Hannah Leon, Fr., C/1B, North Rockland

Olivia Leon, Sr., C, North Rockland

North Rockland's Olivia Leon makes contact for her game-winning walk-off single. North Rockland defeated White Plains, 2-1, in eight innings of the Section 1 Class AA championship game at North Rockland High School on May 29, 2022.
North Rockland's Olivia Leon makes contact for her game-winning walk-off single. North Rockland defeated White Plains, 2-1, in eight innings of the Section 1 Class AA championship game at North Rockland High School on May 29, 2022.

Marlee Levin, Fr., C, Clarkstown North

Emma Levine, Sr., SS, Valhalla

Ava Lichtenberger, Jr., P, Mahopac

Gianna Longo, Jr., P, Nyack

Kiera Luckie, Jr., P, Pearl River

Celia Marranzino, Sr., P/1B, Saunders

ToniAnn Mastracchio, Sr., SS, Westlake

Emma McCormack, Sr., P/1B, Tuckahoe

Delaney McGovern, Jr., P, North Rockland

Virginia McKinney, Sr., C, Mamaroneck

Meghan Meehan, Sr., C/OF, Nanuet

Ryleigh Melendez, Sr., CF, Lakeland

Kittzie Mera, Sr., 1B, Panas

Keira Meyers, Jr., P, Tappan Zee

Mary Mikalsen, Sr., SS, Putnam Valley/Haldane

Mackenzie Moccia, Sr., P, Yonkers Montessori

Yonkers Montessori Academy's Mackenzie Moccia (5) holds the championship trophy after defeating Tuckahoe 10-9 in the Class C softball championship game at North Rockland High School in Thiells, N.Y. on Friday, May 27, 2022.
Yonkers Montessori Academy's Mackenzie Moccia (5) holds the championship trophy after defeating Tuckahoe 10-9 in the Class C softball championship game at North Rockland High School in Thiells, N.Y. on Friday, May 27, 2022.

Anna Morea, Sr., 1B, Pleasantville

Ali Moyer, Sr., P/INF, Panas

Ally Murphy, Sr., SS, North Rockland

Tara Murphy, Fr., P/LF, North Rockland

Maya Nelsen, Sr., 3B, John Jay-Cross River

Emma Nordstrom, Sr., C, Pelham

Savannah Nordstrom, Fr., 1B, Tappan Zee

Maeve O'Donnell, Fr., P/OF, Nyack

Ava Papaleo, Fr., CF, Ursuline

Alyssa Peduto, So., 3B, Eastchester

Drianna Pena, Jr., P/CF, Hamilton

Montana Peppard, So., P/3B/SS, Pleasantville

Clare Picone, Jr., 3B, Rye Neck

Bella Policastro, Fr., 2B, Nyack

Taylor Porco, Jr., P/3B, Clarkstown South

Shelby Preisser, So., OF, Rye Neck

Katie Prisco, Sr., SS, Pelham

Michele Reynoso, Sr., OF/2B, Mamaroneck

Cara Riviello So., SS, New Rochelle

Adrianna Rocco, Sr., SS, Tuckahoe

Kaitlyn Roemmelt, Sr., UTIL, Kennedy Catholic

Sam Rosuck, Sr., 1B, Mamaroneck

Lexi Schaffer, Sr., SS/OF, Hen Hud

Grace Scrima, Sr., CF, Pearl River

Pearl River's Grace Scrima (9) is congratulated byu teammates after hitting a homerun during their 12-1 win over Clarkstown North in softball action at Pearl River High School in Pearl River on Wednesday, April 20, 2022.
Pearl River's Grace Scrima (9) is congratulated byu teammates after hitting a homerun during their 12-1 win over Clarkstown North in softball action at Pearl River High School in Pearl River on Wednesday, April 20, 2022.

Tanner Smith, Jr., P, Valhalla

Sam Stallone, Sr., 3B, Carmel

Alexa Tejera, Sr., P, New Rochelle

Jessica Tejera, So., 3B, Ursuline

Michelle Tiso, Jr., CF, Eastchester

Olivia Tobin, Sr., 2B, Rye Neck

Gabriella Triano, Jr., P, Harrison

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.

Ja'Nae Walker, So., 3B, Hen Hud

Ally Wanner, Sr., OF, Mahopac

Camdyn Wilson, Fr., SS, Mahopac

Kat Wolfthal, Sr., LF, Valhalla

Eleanor Zamora, Jr., C, Croton-Harmon

Sadie Zion, Sr., 1B, Carmel

Follow Eugene Rapay on Twitter at @erapay5 and on Instagram at @byeugenerapay. 

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Softball: See who made the 2023 lohud Nine Who Shine watch list