Two area softball teams are looking to improve on subpar years, while one other is retooling and has its eyes set on the Section 9 title game.

The Valley Central Vikings, under ninth-year coach Katie Farrugia finished 11-8 last year and returns most of its core from a team that went to the Section 9 Class AA semifinals when their season ended at the hands of the Warwick Wildcats.

The Vikings have only lost two players – Alyssa Bonilla and Lauren Serrao – from last year’s team.

Leading the Vikings’ returning players are pitcher Bella Mayo, Emilia Brundage, Brianna Robinson, Madison Sicardo, Audrey Conklin, Kayla Fenner, Autumn Strobach, Megan and Lindsey Serrao.

“I am really excited about the level of talent my team has,” Farrugia said. “The experience at this level with nine returners, who all contributed to our success last year, and the level of drive and determination of the younger players could bode for a really successful year.”

Younger players include Adrianna Ferraro, Mackenzie Hinspeter, Adeline Galante, Emma Moore, Emily Sharpe and Kori Geiselhart.

The Vikings are approaching the season with a “leave it out on the field” mentality.

“We know it will take hard work and dedication as the talent across the section is so good, but my team is willing to put in the work,” Farrugia said. “We really want to compete with the higher level teams in the area and stay in every game.”

Pine Bush
The Pine Bush Bushmen, meanwhile, are looking to improve on last year’s 4-16 seasons, and will enter the season losing their three captains from last season: Nate Burley, Kate Greer and Kaeli Murtagh.

However, they’ll return senior outfielder Courtney Myer, senior outfielder Kayla Suleski, senior utility player Giovanna Brooks, junior catcher Isabella Stiles and sophomore third baseman Kendall Morris.

They’ll be joined by a wealth of new talent that includes freshman pitcher Avery Ogden, freshman catcher Payton Croce, freshman infielders Ava and Emma Boffalo, sophomore shortstop Kayla Gorman, sophomore pitcher Jordyn Wilson, sophomore first baseman and pitcher Natalie Longobardo and sophomore utility player Meaghan Wishinski.

The Bushmen are entering the season with one goal: to improve over last year.

“We will be young and competitive,” Pine Bush coach Scott VanPelt said. “The team chemistry is starting to gel and is encouraging.”

Wallkill

The Wallkill Panthers are entering the season after missing the playoffs every year since 2017, and seventh-year coach Sean Murphy believes that goal is within reach, as the core of the team has worked hard in the offseason after feeling the sting of three walk-off losses that cost them a playoff berth last year.

The Panthers have lost pitcher/shortstop Jennifer Devens, first baseman/catcher Jordyn Detz, outfielder Sera Goering and shortstop/outfielder Amber Reynolds.

Returning are pitcher Olivia Lowery, third baseman Mia Ferrante, shortstop Gabby Faia, second baseman Jenna Galasso, first baseman Alison Robles and center fielder Charley Callahan.

New to the team are outfielder Grace Rodriguez, pitcher/first baseman Kaylee DeGroat, infielder Elysia Villafane, catcher Kasey Garzione, outfielder Maya Alessandro, catcher/outfielder Sarah White, second baseman Amy Crowley and outfielder Sarah Mulligan.

“I love the mix we have right now,” Murphy said. “There’s old and young, outgoing and reserved, speed and power. We really have a well-balanced crew in every sense of the phrase. Most important, though we have a group that cares about each other and cares about the game. Our leadership is doing things the right way, and, as a result, the whole group is coming together nicely.”