Snyder junior pitcher Jordan Mendolla
Snyder senior catcher/pitcher Nayeli Estremera
It
was clearly the best season a Snyder High School softball team ever enjoyed.
The Tigers posted a 15-6 record, 10-4 in the Hudson County Interscholastic
League-Blue Division. The 2019 campaign represented a birth and a resurrection
of the program.
So
with many of the same players returning in 2020, head coach Lucy Rojas was really looking forward
to the new season.
“We
ended last year on a bad note,” said Rojas, referring to the three straight
setbacks to close out 2019, including a setback to Hudson Catholic in the
Hudson County Tournament, a team the Tigers defeated twice in the regular
season. “The reason why we lost those games was all mental. Most of our players
didn’t have any playoff experience. So that says a lot about how hard we worked
to get there.”
Rojas
was encouraged by the attitude of her players.
“We
had a bunch of girls who absolutely loved the sport,” Rojas said. “They all
came out to play and it had a positive carryover into the season.”
So
Rojas was hopeful that the 15-win campaign the Tigers enjoyed would have worked
wonders for the Tigers’ overall approach this season.
“It’s
hard to put into words, but there was a real strong feeling among the girls,”
Rojas said. “They did a lot of work on their own. They played together in a
summer league. They played fall ball together. So I knew that come March, they
couldn’t wait to get going.”
Unfortunately,
the coronavirus pandemic put the entire season on hold for now.
If
and when the season begins, the Tigers will have junior pitcher Jordan Mendolla back on the mound.
Mendolla had an All-Hudson County season last year, collecting 130 strikeouts
in 103 innings pitched on the mound and batting .489 with two homers and 17 RBI.
“I
think she’s going to dominate this year,” Rojas said of Mendolla. “She’s
matured. I think she took on more of
the leadership role. The girls are looking up to her. She carries the team with
her bat and on the mound. She’s a very good player. She’s now stronger and more
mature. She’s breaking out of her shell. She’s just an amazing kid.”
When
Mendolla needs a break from pitching, then senior Nayeli Estremera will step in.
“I
believe in giving Jordan a break,” Rojas said. “We don’t want to wear her out.”
Estremera
is the starting catcher. She batted .431 last year with seven doubles and 15
RBI.
“She’s
definitely an excellent hitter with a lot of power,” Rojas said.
The
first baseman is freshman Adrianna
Santos. Rojas likes what Santos brings to the Tigers.
“I
was ecstatic when I saw her play,” Rojas said. “I stepped up to her and asked, ‘Who
are you and where did you come from?’ She’s definitely experienced and played
on the club level.”
Senior
Natalie Torres is the second
baseman. She transferred to Snyder from Ferris, but she attends County Prep.
Junior
Aaliyah Morales is the team’s
shortstop. The slick fielding Morales batted .327 with 20 runs scored and seven
RBI last year.
Senior
Bianca Figueroa is the third
baseman. She played centerfield last year.
Junior
Chloe Tiangsing is the left fielder.
Tiangsing is the Tigers’ leadoff hitter after batting .470 with 22 runs scored
and 10 RBI last season.
Freshman
Mia Genao is a promising
centerfielder.
“She’s
definitely good,” Rojas said. “I knew about her coming in. She’s very fast and
covers a lot of ground.”
Right
field duties fall to junior Nicole
Borowski. Senior Chenia Atkins
will be the designated player and a key player off the bench has the longest
last name of any Hudson County player in recent years.
Freshman
Gianna Schwerdifeger (pronounced
exactly as it is spelled) will play a lot of different positions for the
Tigers.
Needless
to say, it shapes up as a season for the Snyder softball program that will
prove last year was not a one-shot deal.
“I
can’t wait to start playing,” Rojas said. “We have some good returning players
and picked up some good freshmen. It should be a good year.”
If
we start playing anytime soon.
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