New coach for Kittatinny softball team

For more than 20 years, including two decades as head coach of the Kittatinny Regional High School girls softball team, Heather Mate left her mark for all of the right reasons.

She earned more than 200 victories during her time in that job.

Now that she’s retired from coaching the team, former Kittatinny assistant coach Jodie Chadwick is taking over.

She brings enthusiasm, preparedness and readiness to achieve goals on the field this season and beyond.

Kittatinny is scheduled to open the regular season with a home game against Morris Tech on April 2.

“I’m grateful to have the opportunity to become the head coach this season,’’ Chadwick said. “I’m looking forward to coaching these young ladies and watching them grow.’’

Among the top returning student athletes are juniors Tasha Hornung (catcher), Kayleigh Mastroeni (short stop), Ria Craig-Aguilar (second base), Chelsea Bakker (left field) and Kinya Kajogo (utility player).

Promising newcomers include freshmen Naila Watley-Gonzalez (outfielder) and Rilee Pierce (pitcher).

“Since we don’t have any seniors on the roster, I will be looking to all the juniors to be leaders on the field,’’ Chadwick said.

Her goals are straightforward and seemingly attainable.

“I would like the girls to come together and work as a team,’’ she said. “I would like them to learn how to communicate with each other on the field. I would also like them to improve their softball skills throughout the season.’’

The Cougars posted an 8-15 record and earned three victories in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference Freedom Division last year. They advanced to the quarterfinal round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 1 Group 1 Sectional Tournament before being defeated by third-seeded Park Ridge. In the first round of the sectionals, they topped sixth-seeded New Milford.

“As a new head coach for this year, I feel like this will be a rebuilding year for us,’’ Chadwick said. “The teams to beat in the Freedom Division will be Jefferson, High Point, Vernon, Lenape Valley and North Warren.’’