For one last time the 2026 State University of New York New Paltz softball team will take the field as part of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC). 
 
After 40 years, 16 appearances in the SUNYAC postseason tournament — including four-straight — one SUNYAC championship, which came in 2024, and 72 players honored as All-SUNYAC, the Hawks will look to go out in style before they enter the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) next year.
 
"We're really motivated to put last season behind us and to keep building off what we're currently doing now," said Hawks junior infielder and co-captain Ella Sharrock. "Everybody is more hungry than ever and we're all really looking forward to holding that trophy at the end of the year.
 
"Coach Joe and [assistant] coach Alyana [Savaglio] have been really understanding. They have been working with us to build the culture that we want to have here at New Paltz and they've been very supportive. We've been talking a lot about what we envisioned for the team even passed the SUNYAC and they embrace our energy and our loudness, and they let be ourselves but also know that we have to lock in at certain times."
 
Hoping to make the transition a smooth one is newly appointed head coach Joe DiPietro who will need to bring his lengthy collegiate experience to the fore as he will be leading a talented yet somewhat inexperienced squad into 2026.
 
"The second coach Joe walked through the doors he told us that we already won SUNYACS, we already won everything, we're going to the national championship," O'Brien said. "He's really giving us a winning mindset and he's given us a sense of stability and trust in ourselves that we can get that far and we are worthy of that win."
 
Last season, the Hawks finished with a modest 22-18 overall record and a robust 15-3 SUNYAC mark. Through 40 games, SUNY New Paltz finished with a .269 batting average on 1,081 at bats with 291 hits, 143 runs scored, 128 RBI and a slugging percentage of .379. The pitching staff posted a 3.89 ERA with a 1.47 WHIP, with 22 complete games, 10 shutouts and 256 strikeouts. The Hawks also fielded .973 with only 28 errors in 40 games.
 
 
Although the team is ready to build off what was a disappointing end, losing both games in the postseason tournament, the group will have to fill the holes left by a decorated senior class which included two-time All-SUNYAC select and former SUNYAC Player of the Year Jackie Rometo, along with three-time All-SUNYAC pitcher Sydney Waldon. But the program is looking to move forward and is confident in the pieces in place to get back to a conference title run and NCAA appearance.
 
"The bulk of this program has really been through a lot together and that was kind of a growing season for us. We're going to build off that and we're really excited to finally show everyone what we can do and what we've been hiding from last year, and we're ready to get on the field this year," said SUNY New Paltz senior outfielder and co-captain Kelsey O'Brien.
 
For the past several seasons, pitching has been one of the key elements for the Hawks success. Sophomore Leah Gensett (Marlboro, NY/Marlboro HS) earned All-SUNYAC Second Team honors a year ago, with a 2.67 ERA in 115.1 innings, a 1.31 WHIP with 10 complete games, four shutouts and 87 strikeouts. Fellow sophomore Morgan Smith (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa HS) saw limited mound time in 2025, but has grown in her role, while SUNY New Paltz welcomes a huge addition to its pitching corps in senior and College of Staten Island transfer Alex Frenza (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz HS). At CSI, Frenza pitched 256.1 innings, with a 4.62 ERA, totaled 11 wins and four saves with 158 strikeouts. She, along with Gunsett will be the featured arms with Smith also in the mix for time in the circle.
 
First year Nicolette Ferraro (Syosset, NY/Syosset HS) has the credentials to be next top Hawks pitcher; the All-Long Island selection and three-time All-Nassau County pitcher struck out 291 in 288 innings, pitched 25 complete games and was 13-4 in her senior year and will have time to develop behind a strong group.
 
"Honestly, we're really well-rounded team we got new additions for pitching are really solid," Sharrock said. "We got a couple new hitters that are really going to be good and coach Joe has been helping us out a lot with unlocking our strengths for hitting and we all look solid from 1 to 10."
 
It's a veteran infield returning for SUNY New Paltz. Junior and All-SUNYAC First Team pick Ella Sharrock (Selden, NY/Newfield HS) is back at first base. She started 38 of 29 games, batted .317 with 39 hits, 15 runs scored and 22 RBI in 123 at bats, along with going 4-for-4 in stolen bases attempts. In the field, she finished with a fielding average of .974 with 194 catches, 181 putouts and turned four double plays. 
 
 
"Ella has always been a great voice on and off the field, but this year obviously being named captain as a junior she's really stepped up," said SUNY New Paltz senior and co-captain Lauren Serrao. "She pushes us, she works harder than anyone else on our team and excited to see what the future holds for her."
 
At second base is a veteran in Serrao (Rock Tavern, NY/Valley Central HS) who has been a staple in the lineup since her freshman year. Last season, she started all 40 games with 96 at bats, 17 hits, 16 runs, 15 RBI and 25 total bases. She fielded .959 with 122 catches, 56 putouts and a team-leading 61 assists. Junior Maddie Anderson (Sayville, NY/Sayville HS) could see action at third base or shortstop; she started 39-of-40 games with 20 hits, 14 runs scored and six RBI. She had 107 catches, 56 putouts and 48 assists for a .972 fielding percentage.
 
Another key transfer to join SUNY New Paltz is former Oneonta Red Dragon Ava Thys (Fairfax, VA/James W. Robinson Secondary School). Thys was a two-year starter at Oneonta, earning All-SUNYAC Second Team honors a year ago and will likely shore-up the Hawks at short. An athletic, long infielder, Thys started 71-of-78 games for the Red Dragons, batting .329 with 70 hits, 46 runs and 11 stolen bases. Challenging at third base is Darian Palmer (Auburn, NY/Hannibal HS). Palmer spent her first season at Corning CC, batting .319 with 23 hits and 16 RBI in 25 games. At Jefferson CC last season, she batted .323 with 30 hits and 19 RBI in 31 games. The final newcomer vying for playing time in the infield is freshman Ava Smith (Greenville, NY/Minisink Valley HS), who led her team to two Section 9, Class A championship games and the NYS Regional finals. In 38 games, Smith batted .347 with 35 hits and 20 RBI with a .421 OBP and a fielding average of .932.
 
"My expectations are always high every year," Serrao said. "I believe in our girls so much. I believe in our team, I believe in New Paltz, and coach Joe just brings that aspect of pushing us to the level that we didn't even know that we could exceed, and he's just been a great addition to our program."
 
The outfield is led by incumbent and fellow senior co-captain O'Brien (Monroe, NY) Monroe-Woodbury HS) who was an All-SUNYAC Second Team pick last year and arguably the Hawks' best player a season ago. Last year, O'Brien led SUNY New Paltz in multiple offensive categories, including batting average (.385), OPS, (1.061), slugging percentage (.631), on -base percentage (.430), hits (50), home runs (6), extra base hits (17), RBI (27), total bases (82), runs (26), stolen bases (23-23) with eight walks in 130 at bats. Manning left field, O'Brien totaled 51 catches, 48 putouts and had a .961 fielding percentage. She'll take over center field duties from Rometo in 2026.
 
"I think we're returning a lot of very strong players, but the goal for this year is that one through nine are all going to contribute the same amount, so I'm really excited for everyone to step up and everyone to show what they can do," O'Brien said.
 
The rest of the outfield is up for grabs, loaded with young talent. Juniors Michaela Bridgwood (Levittown, NY/Division Avenue HS), Danielle Steinmann (Lindenhurst, NY/Lindenhurst HS), Kate Hope (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley HS) and sophomore Lindsay Serrao (Rock Tavern, NY/Valley Central HS) all saw action in 2025 to bring experience to the position. Two first year players bring a wealth of talent to the Hawks lineup. Jenna Carmody (Neversink, NY/Tri-Valley Central School) was a two-time All-New York State, Class C selection, a three-time Section IX, Class C/D first team pick, and a two-time Section IX, Class C/D Player of the Year. Kaitlyn Gordon (Marlboro, NY/Marlboro HS) was a key part of the Marlboro softball dynasty, was a Section IX, Class A First Team and a NFCA All Region IX First Team pick a year ago.
 
"I feel like we gained a really strong freshmen class. I'm working specifically with the outfielders, and they bring such good energy, they work so hard," said O'Brien. "I feel like this is going to be a great year for them to add to our program."
 
Behind the plate will be 2025 SUNYAC All-Tournament Team selection Mallory Rohon (Southington, CT/Southington HS). Rohon started all 40 games and in 124 at-bats, she had 32 hits, five home runs, 15 RBI and batted .258. She had 189 catches with 157 put outs, 29 assists and threw out six base runners for a .984 fielding percentage. Junior Halle Sacharoff (Albertson, NY/Herricks HS) returns after a season ending injury a year ago and joining the team after a year's absence is sophomore Meredith Garafolo (Kinderhook, NH/Icabod Crane HS) who is also excited to return following a season-ending injury ahead of her freshman campaign.
 
Junior transfer Brianna Hardwick (Albany, NY/Shaler HS) joins the fold after playing two seasons of junior college softball. Hardwick first starred at Corning CC where she led the Red Barons to the NJCAA World Series, batting .407 with 46 hits, 28 RBI, 27 runs scored, 137 putouts in 152 chances for a .961 fielding percentage. Then, at Jefferson CC, she batted .429 on 48 hits, with 50 RBI and 28 runs scored with 142 putouts in 162 chances for a .969 fielding percentage.
 
The Hawks' 40 game schedule includes 15 teams that saw postseason action in 2025; five saw play in the NCAA DIII tournament, including a national semifinalist; two were conference champions and three were conference finalists.  
 
SUNY New Paltz opens the 2026 season on the road Saturday against No. 7 nationally ranked Randolph-Macon College (VA), followed by 13-straight road games, taking them from New York to Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia and New Jersey.  The Hawks return home April 3, hosting SUNY Fredonia in both the home and SUNYAC opener. They then conclude the 2026 regular and SUNYAC season May 1, entertaining SUNY Oneonta. The SUNYAC Tournament begins on Thursday, May 7.
 
"We always trust we have some big hitters in our lineup, great hitters and our defense is always solid. We bring our defense every year and that's never a problem and never a doubt," added Lauren Serrao. I see nothing but a SUNYAC Championship in the future. We are highly motivated… We're just trying to take it as far as we can."
 
 
Softball Preview featuring captains Kelsey O'Brien, Ella Sharrock & Lauren Serrao



********************
To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow us on Twitter at @nphawks, Instagram and Facebook at @newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our Youtube channel, New Paltz Hawks.