For the State University of New York at New Paltz softball team, the 2022 was a season of firsts — its 27 wins were the most in program history; earning its way to the SUNYAC tournament semifinal was the deepest run into the tournament ever; the selection of four Hawks to the All-SUNYAC squad the most ever; topped off by team captain Katie Quagliana being named as the SUNYAC Player of the Year.
 
What awaits the 2023 edition of fifth year coach Krysti Maronski and SUNY New Paltz will only be determined on the softball field. Yet with 12 seasoned veterans, including three All-SUNYAC selections and a deep, experienced pitching rotation, returning the prospect of another successful season looms large.
 
"The end of the postseason run was definitely devasting for me," said Hawks senior captain Jillian Harrison. "I thought we had a really good chance of going all the way and I was pretty heart-broken, but I was very hopefully on the bus ride back after talking to everybody that this was going to be the season that we're going to do it and I believe we're going to make it to the championship game this year."
 
 
SUNY New Paltz boasts the return of its two top pitchers in 2023. The ace of the crew is First-Team All-SUNYAC junior Lindsay Roman (Merrick, NY). Roman led the team in innings pitched at 116.2 with an ERA of 1.93, 94 strikeouts and wins with 13. Backing her is Harrison (Gardiner, NY) who posted a 2.49 ERA with 41 strikeouts and eight wins to earn Second-Team All-SUNYAC honors. Sophomores Erin Barno (Chester, NY) and Sydney Waldron (Maplewood, NJ) saw limited action in 2022 and add collegiate depth on the mound.
 
Roman, Harrison and Waldon all saw critical innings throughout the Hawks' four-game postseason run in 2022.
 
"The pitching staff this year hasn't taken on any new homies, so we're pretty confident with each other and with coach," Harrison said. "We know what's expected of us and we know how to work hard and pick each other up. It's a deep staff and having the four of us that's been in postseason games in those tough situations, Lindsay having thrown in those tight games, going into it knowing what she's doing and myself included, definitely builds confidence within the team and within ourselves."  
Behind the plate, the incumbent is senior Juliet Bernstein (Baldwin, NY) who saw action in 25 games last season. Vying to call the signals will be two first year players, Emmie Mae Cabrera (Marlboro, NY) and Catie Driscoll (Arlington HS/Poughkeepsie, NY).
 
The infield will be anchored by First-Team All-SUNYAC and junior captain Jillian Shelbourne (Patchogue, NY). Playing in 42 games, Shelbourne hit a team leading
.398 last season, was tops with 26 RBI, had 43 hits, 14 runs scored and 52 total bases. Her .975 fielding percentage, with 200 catches, and 189 putouts, is tops among the returnees as she, along with fellow junior captain Kelly Marmorowski will both see time at first base. Marmorowski (Floral Park, NY) and fellow juniors Isabella Shepherd (East Meadow, NY) and Rhionna Bianchini (Blue Point, NY) provide experience in the infield. Marmorowski saw action in 32 games with 59 catches, 55 putouts, fielding .966. Shepherd played in 31 games, fielded .815 with 27 catches, 13 putouts and nine assists, while Bianchini played in 42 games, fielding .889 with 126 catches, 40 putouts and 72 assists.
 
"Being named a team captain and coming off a good season last year myself has definitely changed my role and I believe has given me more confidence on the field and just with the team… as a captain, I've raised my standards knowing I need to hold myself to a higher standard to lead by example for the rest of the team," Shelbourne said. "Being a more veteran team I think will definitely help us going into playoffs. Last year, we were a lot younger team and we didn't know what to expect going into SUNYAC's so I believe that us being a veteran team will make an impact."
 
Looking to earn quality playing time will be several first years, including two-time All-Section Kelsey O'Brien (Monroe Woodbury HS/Monroe, NY); all section Jaycee Filancia (John Jay-East Fishkill HS/East Fishkill, NY); three-time Poughkeepsie Journal and Varsity 845 all-star Lauren Serrao (Valley Central HS/Rock Tavern, NY), who can also patrol the outfield.
 
Patrolling the outfield will be the responsibility of three veterans with the aid of two first year players. Topping the list is sophomore Jackie Rometo (Walden, NY). Rometo, who batted .372 last season, led the Hawks in 12 statistical categories in 2022: slugging percentage (.500), runs (41), hits (55), doubles (14), triples (1), home runs (1), walks (16), sacrifice bunts (2), stolen bases (16), at bats (148), games played (44) and games started (44). Defensively she fielded .937 with 143 catches, 82 putouts and 52 assists, manning mostly second-base responsibilities but will see more time in the outfield at her natural spot. Senior Sydney Bonewit (Kingston, NY) saw action in 42 games with 63 catches and 59 putouts, fielding .968, as she demonstrated she was one of the best defensive centerfielders in the conference last season. Sophomore Nicole Greco (Southington, CT) played in 39 games with 32 catches, 29 putouts, fielding .969. New to the Hawks is first year Morgan Lanberg (East Islip HS/East Islip, NY).
"The incoming class is very strong," Harrison said. "They're smart players. They're determined players. They take initiative and they're not afraid to get dirty. I'm really excited to see them take the field and work together, and what they have to come for their four years. I'm glad they're behind me in my last season."
 
SUNY New Paltz opens its 2023 campaign with an aggressive 20 game non-conference schedule. Nine of the 16 teams it will face participated in postseason action in 2022, including two which advanced on to the NCAA DIII tournament. Beginning Thursday, the Hawks are at Rutgers-Camden, playing the Scarlet Raptors in a doubleheader. Following is a 12-game trip to Florida for the PFX Spring Games, split between Winter Haven and Auburndale, against top DIII competition from the Midwest. They then return north for a four-game set on Long Island, playing Farmingdale State and St Joseph's College.
 
SUNY New Paltz opens its home season against its Hudson Valley rival Mount Saint Mary College on April 5 and begin its SUNYAC account at home on April 7 against SUNY Geneseo. The Hawks conclude both the regular and SUNYAC season on May 6 at Fredonia State.
 
"To be a part of the team last year and making it the winningest team in program history, going into the postseason and know that we could up the ante, and become the first team to bring home a SUNYAC Championship, and hopefully get to host a SUNYAC Championship would really just be the cherry on top of my final season," Harrison said. "It would be an honor to get to have a SUNYAC Championship under my belt under the name of New Paltz, bringing it back home to my hometown. That would be so great, and I know we can do it, so I'm ready to get out there and be aggressive and take the wins as they come."
 
"Going into the season, we really set the standard of getting further into playoffs," added Shelbourne. "We did place third last year and we all know we can place higher and hopefully win the championship this year. As a team, we've looked very good. We have great chemistry on the field. We all are very cohesive, and we think that will show on [Thursday]."
 
The road to more history starts Thursday for SUNY New Paltz as it faces the Raptors, on Raptors Community Park starting a 3 p.m.

Season Preview featuring Jillian Harrison & Jillian Shelbourne


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