WEST ORANGE, NJ – West Orange High School varsity softball head coach Joel Troast is optimistic about this season, which features five returning seniors and five third-year varsity starters.
The co-captains are twins Amanda and Emma Scalora, who have also been part of the award-winning varsity cheerleaders. Amanda plays first base and Emma is a pitcher. Other seniors are Tatiana Stewart and Sophia Adelson.
Third-year varsity starters include the Scalora twins and junior center fielder Dani Fastiggi, shortstop Nahtali Simpson and third baseman Siena Pizzano. Fastiggi is a member of the cheerleading team, Simpson is a member of the girls’ basketball team and Pizzano is a member of the girls’ tennis team. The girls’ tennis and girls’ basketball teams also won Super Essex Conference division championships this year.
The Mountaineers lost their first six games of the season, falling to Cedar Grove, Millburn, Verona, Bloomfield, Belvidere and Morris County Tech. But they earned their first win of the season with an 8-6 victory over Belleville on Monday, April 10, to move to 1-6. With this win, Troast expects the team to hit its stride.
The rest of the roster includes center fielder Brooke Reinstein, right fielder Erin Vermeal, left fielder Andreyah Agaday, and second baseman Meg White.
The assistant coaches are Nicole Allocco, Jackie Cruz, and Michael Marini.
“We’re looking forward to a strong season,” said Troast. “We have our five varsity starters in their third year and others like Meghan White, Brooke and Erin Vermeal, have seen playing time.”