Softball: Section 1's coaching wins leader, Rye Neck's Joan Spedafino, earns 600th victory

MAMARONECK - Rye Neck coach Joan Spedafino has experienced the thrill of game day countless times before, but Friday afternoon's showdown with Westlake brought a double dose of added nerves.

The superstitious Spedafino curtailed any pre-game chatter surrounding her upcoming milestone, but the secret leaked its way out as plenty of family members, friends, and players – past, present and future – arrived to witness history.

After a five-inning affair with the Wildcats, the Panthers emerged victorious, 18-1. The win marked Spedafino's 600th of her career. She also became the first coach in Section 1 softball history to reach that mark.

"It's just mind-boggling, it's wonderful to have all my friends and family here," Spedafino said of her latest accomplishment. "Rye Neck is a great place to be and coach. My whole career has been here and I'm just so thankful. It's a team effort on and off the field. I was blessed to coach with my husband, my sons and now with Jessica Calvini who played here.

"There's been a lot of great players and great people along the way. From our modified to our JV coaches, to our athletic director and superintendent, everyone is so supportive. It's a team effort and they've all contributed to this."

The Panthers were able to celebrate the momentous moment on their home field, a site that has seen plenty of victories since Spedafino took over the varsity program in 1986.

Flanked by her players, friends, family members, coaches, and various members of the Rye Neck community, to Spedafino, it was the perfect way to celebrate her 600th win. It was one of many ways to measure the meaning of her accomplishment.

"She has the biggest legacy ever in this community," Rye Neck junior Shelby Preisser said. "She's been here for so long and I know when I was growing up, I used to look up to the girls on varsity and Coach Sped and say I want to be in that position one day. She's such a role model for this community and represents what Rye Neck is."

A three-sport athlete in field hockey, basketball and softball growing up in Mamaroneck, Spedafino eventually followed in her mother's footsteps and was inspired to become a coach.

While she's been synonymous with Rye Neck's softball program and a prominent figure in Section 1 athletics, Spedafino initially never expected to reach 600 wins or become an influential person on the diamond.

"I was really a basketball coach, because I coached basketball for 10 years, and they asked me to coach softball, and I loved it," said Spedafino, looking back at her Rye Neck beginnings. "I also coached field hockey for one year, but everything just fell into place.

"It's because of everyone – from the kids to the parents, the staff, the administration, to my fellow coaches around – I just love it. I'm involved in the coaching association and the whole package. When you love something, it's easy to do and it's always been easy here, and I've always loved it."

A member of both the Westchester County and New York State Softball Halls of Fame, Spedafino's impact goes beyond the basepaths.

"She's like a mother figure for us," Rye Neck senior Ariana Hammer said. "She's always there for us, even if it's not for softball. She's always texting us to see if we're okay, how we're feeling, and we always have her back no matter what."

The Panthers pounced on the Wildcats from the first inning. They eventually pulled away with a big second-inning surge, where they batted around the order and tallied 11 runs.

The two-time reigning Section 1 Class B champs have high aspirations once again, but they aim to make the most of each day with a steadfast one-game-at-a-time approach.

"I'm really proud of the way we played today and the way we stepped up," Rye Neck senior Clare Picone said. "The bats were really alive today. We made every play we could, and we did a really good job in the field and in the dugout. It was just a really good job all-around for us."

What it means

Section 1 softball's all-time wins leader set the bar even higher. Spedafino, who was the only Section 1 coach to eclipse the 500-win mark, now becomes the lone member of the 600-win club in the Lower Hudson Valley.

Looking across the state, only three other coaches have achieved 600 or more victories. According to the NYSPHSAA softball record book, Spedafino joins an exclusive club which also features former Bay Shore coach Jim McGowan of Section 11, Cicero-North Syracuse's Kerry Bennett of Section 3, and current Minisink Valley coach Bruce Guyette of Section 9.

Player of the game

Shelby Preisser, Rye Neck: The junior ace delivered in the circle and at the plate. She gave up one earned run on three hits and one walk, while striking out eight batters in the five-inning affair. She also went 3-for-4 with a double, triple, one run and a game-high five RBIs.

By the numbers

Rye Neck (9-1) – Ariana Hammer safely reached base four times, including a double, solo home run, two RBIs and four runs scored from the leadoff spot. Clare Picone went 3-for-3 with two doubles, four RBIs, one walk and two runs scored. Charlotte Picone was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Gianna Stracuzzi went 1-for-2 with two RBIs. Daniela Lori and Peyton Namaga each had a hit and a RBI. Gabby Fasolino, Sam Golub, Skylar Williams and Carly Golub each had a hit. For Carly Golub, it was her first career varsity hit.

Westlake (3-5) – Kathryn Lonergan was 1-for-2 with a triple and a RBI. Taylor Matura and Caleigh Finck each had hits.

They said it

"I've always played for such unbelievable coaches, but what's so special about Ms. Sped is that she's just such an active member of the community," said Jessica Calvini, a former Rye Neck standout who now coaches alongside Spedafino. "People have her in fourth grade and you see her as an elementary school teacher at F.E. Bellows, then everyone comes to the clinics throughout elementary school and middle school, and she's just always there through everyone's stages of their life. It's really nice, so that when you get to high school, she's such a support system for everyone in the community and there's a family-oriented kind of feel."

"She's like a mother to us," Picone said. "She's always making sure that we're feeling okay and that everything's up to par, the way it should be. No matter what, in-season or out-of-season, she's just always there and she means a lot to us."

"It's a small school, so everyone is so close, I teach fourth grade here and I've taught many of these girls," said Spedafino of what she loves most about Rye Neck. "I've gotten to watch them grow into amazing young women, celebrate their acceptances into college, so it's a complete package."

Follow Eugene Rapay on Twitter at @erapay5 and on Instagram at @byeugenerapay.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Softball: Rye Neck's Joan Spedafino earns Section 1 record 600th win