By Rob Potter
LIVINGSTON MANOR — Last season, the Livingston Manor Lady Wildcats softball team posted an overall record of 15-4. The Lady Wildcats qualified for sectionals and advanced to the Section IX Class D title game.
Unfortunately, Manor lost to Chapel Field, 4-0, in that championship contest played last June at Minisink Valley High School in Slate Hill.
Three of the Lady Wildcats’ four losses in 2008 were to Chapel Field, which went on to capture the state Class D crown. Manor’s other defeat came at the hands of Chester, which won the Section IX Class C title.
Manor lost six seniors – Valentina Babich, Megan Ellison, Heather Estrada, Ashley Meyer, Chelsea Riegal and Jessie Simmons – to graduation.
The Lady Wildcats’ 2009 roster includes: Christine Babich (sophomore), Maggi Calo (freshman), Emily Casey (junior), Tiffany Cherry (junior), Marissa Diescher (sophomore), Brittanie Fredenburg (junior), Kym Potter (senior), Victoria Taggart (sophomore), Angela Trotti (junior), Angela Zayas (sophomore), Marina Zayas (senior) and Nina Zheng (freshman).
Co-Coaches Kevin Clifford and Charlie Hicks will lead the Lady Wildcats this spring.
“We have a good core of returners and some very promising newcomers, so we hope to improve each game,” Clifford said. “Hopefully, we will make another run at a section title.”
“We’re a relatively young team, but Kevin and I have high expectations,” Hicks said.