Westchester/Putnam softball this year saw some history and many upperclassmen step into the spotlight for their teams. It was a freshman, who after a stellar season last year, took her game to another level.
2024 lohud Westchester/Putnam Softball Player of the Year
Alexis Tighe
School: White Plains
Year: Freshman
Position: Pitcher
Highlights: The freshman had some big shoes to fill in the circle and did so as the Conference 1-D pitcher of the year. In her first full year pitching, she had a 16-2 record with an ERA of 1.09 in 115.1 innings. She struck out 238. She was also a batter to fear in the White Plains lineup batting .569 with 12 doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 34 RBI. She garnered all-section honors and first team Class AAA all-state honors leading the Tigers to a third straight Section 1 championship appearance.
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The rest of the first team
Gabriella 'GT' Triano
School: Harrison
Year: Senior
Position: Pitcher
Highlights: In a historic season for the Huskies, Triano, both in the circle and out, led the Huskies to a first ever Section 1 Class A championship. The Conference 1-C pitcher of the year had a 1.98 ERA in 138 innings pitched. She had a record of 15-6 with 20 walks and 175 strikeouts. The Carnegie Mellon commit graduates as Harrison's all-time strikeout leader. She garnered all-section honors and second team all-state honors. At the plate, she had a .368 average with nine doubles, six home runs and 22 RBI.
Barbara Jo Coppola
School: Harrison
Year: Junior
Position: Catcher
Highlights: Coppola was one of the leaders of the Huskies getting to their first ever Section 1 Class A championship and first appearance in the state tournament. She batted .426 with five doubles, four triples, four home runs, 33 runs scored, 10 steals, was intentionally walked 16 times and had 22 RBI. Coppola garnered all-section honors and fifth-team all state honors.
Katie Cole
School: Somers
Year: Sophomore
Position: Infield
Highlights: In the leadoff spot, Cole was the catalyst for the Tuskers in their run to the Section 1 Class A final. She finished the season with a .475 batting average, .590 on base percentage, 1.245 OPS. She had seven doubles, two triples, 12 RBI, 23 runs scored, and 17 walks. Cole garnered Conference II-D all-section honors.
Lexi Cozzali
School: Harrison
Year: Junior
Position: Infield
Highlights: The Huskies shortstop had a career year in a season that found her team finishing with a record of 18-7. She finished the season with a .483 batting average, 14 doubles, five triples, five home runs, 33 runs scored and 30 RBI. Cozzali garnered all-section honors and was named to the fourth-team Class AA all-state honors.
Ava Galligani
School: White Plains
Year: Junior
Position: Infield
Highlights: The Tigers second baseman was one of the leaders and earned Conference 1-D co-player of the year. She finished the season with a .431 batting average, seven doubles, a triple, four home runs, 28 runs scored, and 25 RBI. The USF commit garnered All-Section honors and second team all-state honors in Class AAA.
Alyssa Peduto
School: Eastchester
Year: Junior
Position: Infield
Highlights: The Conference II-E co-player of the year with her sister Gianna led the Eagles to a semifinals appearance in Section 1 Class AA tournament. The Eagles shortstop finished the season with a .486 batting average, eight doubles, two home runs, 33 runs scored and 24 RBI. She garnered third-team Class AA all-state honors and All-section honors.
Ava Papaleo
School: Ursuline
Year: Sophomore
Position: Outfield
Highlights: The Koalas center fielder had another stellar season culminating with All-American honors and first team Class AA honors. The Conference 1-C player of the year finished the season with a .616 batting average, .650 OBP, 1.217 SLG, 15 doubles, seven triples, five home runs, 14 steals and 41 RBI. Twenty-seven of her 45 hits were for extra bases.
Gianna Peduto
School: Eastchester
Year: Junior
Position: Outfield
Highlights: The Conference II-E co-player of the year with her sister Alyssa had a career year for the Eagles. The outfielder/second baseman finished the season with a .474 batting average, nine doubles, two triples, 22 runs scored and had 22 RBI.
Drianna Peña
School: Hamilton
Year: Senior
Position: Outfield
Highlights: Peña was the leader of Hamilton and was a swiss army knife for them as she played the outfield, pitched and played shortstop. The Conference III-C player of the year for the second straight year finished the season with a .707 batting average, .782 OBP, 2.587 OPS. The Central Connecticut commit had seven doubles, seven triples, eight home runs, 19 steals, 28 runs scored and 33 RBI for the Red Raiders. Twenty-two of her 29 hits were for extra bases.
Katherine Papa
School: Somers
Year: Junior
Position: Designated Player
Highlights: Papa was a standout catcher for the Tuskers. Her .994 fielding percentage helped the Tuskers advance to the Section 1 Class AA finals. The Conference II-D league player of the year finished the season with a .386 batting average, with seven doubles, a home run and had 27 RBI.
Callie Sniffen
School: Haldane
Year: Junior
Position: Designated Player
Highlights: The leader of the reformed Blue Devils had another solid season at first base, winning the Conference III-D Player of the Year for a second time. She finished the season with a .581 batting average.. She had a Section 1 best 11 home runs (23 over the last two years), 30 runs scored and 39 RBI.
Maysin Kannapin
School: Dobbs Ferry
Year: Junior
Position: Utility
Highlights: The Eagles catcher was a wall all season long. The Conference III-B player of the year for the fourth time threw out eight runners for a .973 fielding percentage. She finished the season with a .606 batting average, .671 OBP, and a 1.015 slugging percentage. Kannapin had nine doubles, six home runs, 34 runs scored and 26 RBI. She garnered fifth-team Class B all-state honors.
Clare Picone
School: Rye Neck
Year: Senior
Position: Utility
Highlights: Picone has been a stalwart behind the plate for Rye Neck for years leading the Panthers to the Section 1 Class B finals. The Monmouth commit threw out 98% of runners this season. The Conference III-A player of the year finished the season with a .477 batting average. She had seven doubles, a triple, five home runs, intentionally walked 10 times, 34 runs scored and 32 RBI. She garnered third-team Class B all-state honors.
Coach of the year
Dean Marino, Harrison
The Huskies have been one of the top teams in Section 1 and this season won the one thing that eluded them, the Section 1 championship. In Class AA, Marino led the Huskies to an 18-7 record and made it to the sub-regionals.
Second team
P- Sofia Haber, So., Ardsley
P- Tanner Smith, Sr., Valhalla
C- Aine Curley, Jr., Kennedy Catholic
INF- Riley Foote, Fr., John Jay-Cross River
INF- Jessica Tejera, Jr., Ursuline
INF- Lexi Tomaselli, Fr., Pleasantville
INF- Ja'Nae Walker, Jr., Hen Hud
OF- Katelyn Flanagan, So., Putnam Valley
OF- Jordana Kerwar, Fr., Fox Lane
OF- Neela Older, So., White Plains
DP- Andy Hegarty, Jr., Hackley
DP- Shelby Preisser, Jr., Rye Neck
UTIL- Katie Attwood, So., Tuckahoe
UTIL- Ava Lichtenberger, Sr., Mahopac
Honorable mention
Leaila Alexander, Jr., SS, Ossining; Alexa Anderson, Fr., SS, Roosevelt; Sophia Aqeel, So., C, North Salem; Emma Barbelet, So., P, Hen Hud; Bella Barry, So., CF, John Jay-Cross River; Emily Boyle, Fr., P, Somers; Amelia Brooks, Sr., C, Rye; Leila Campbell, Jr., OF, Yonkers; Sabrina Cosgrove, 8th, P, Eastchester; Deirdre Curley, Sr., P/MIF, Carmel; Rebecca Friedman, Jr., P, Edgemont; Nicole Mautone, So., P, Lakeland; Emma Namba, Fr., P/SS, Pelham; Montana Peppard, Jr., P, Pleasantville; Emma Philp, 7th, 2B, Ardsley; Ava Ritterman, So., 3B/SS, White Plains; Sofia Rodriguez, Fr., P, Fox Lane; Nailah Searight, So., P/SS, Saunders.
Twitter: @LoHud_Debbie ; @LoHudSoftball
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Softball: White Plains ace Alexis Tighe headlines the 2024 Westchester/Putnam All Stars
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