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Cooperstown is coming off of a wildly successful winter sports season that saw both basketball teams win sectional titles with the girls making it to the State Final Four.
Now, coach Bud Lippitt and the Hawkeyes softball team are looking to continue that success into the spring season.
“I’m very excited to see what we’re going to accomplish this year,” he said.
Cooperstown returns all but one starter from last year’s team that went 13-8 before falling in the Section III Class C Quarterfinals. It was a successful rebuilding year after the team lost several key players from its 2023 sectional title-winning squad.
But now expectations are sky-high once again with a team chock-full of talent and experience.
“I look at the group we’ve got coming back — they’re all a year older, their experience is that much better,” Lippitt said. “Some of the girls played travel ball in the offseason which is going to be nothing but a benefit. I’m really excited to see how we do. I’m not so much worried about the early season but boy, as the season progresses, it’s going to be fun to watch these girls.”
When asked about the strengths of this year’s team, Lippitt wasn’t shy about how he feels about the Hawkeyes’ bats.
“We’re going to be putting up a lot of runs. We’re going to hit the ball,” he said. “There’s not going to be a lot of pitchers that are going to stop us from scoring runs.”
Leading the offense once again will be junior Katie Crippen. A Fourth Team All-State selection last year and a varsity player since seventh grade, Crippen was a key cog in Cooperstown’s final four run and is back as the engine of the softball team’s attack.
“She’s the best softball player I’ve ever coached, without a doubt,” Lippitt said. “She’s absolutely amazing. You put her in the batter’s box, you better look out.”
Crippen already holds most of the school’s hitting records but will look to bounce back from a disappointing end to last season when she suffered a serious knee injury in the team’s playoff loss.
Crippen will once again be one of the Hawkeyes’ captains and makes up a strong leadership group that includes seniors Emmy Lippitt, Bella Reich and Grace Sperry.
Lippitt and junior Jensen Merwin return as Cooperstown’s top pitchers and will also be key components at the plate.
With so much experience returning, Lippitt said it’s a benefit as a coach to not have to give a second thought to the cohesion of his team.
“That’s been one thing I’ve really been emphasizing since we started last week, was how well our team gelled together [last year] and I think a lot of that was how our captains showed that great leadership,” he said.
Over in Section IV, there is no shortage of contenders including Laurens/Milford.
After winning the Tri-Valley League crown in 2023, L/M had a share of the regular season title last year but fell in the league playoffs and then the sectional quarterfinals.
But coach Jim Weir brings back many of his key players from last year and said he expects them to continue to make strides in 2025.
“We’re looking to be in the hunt again,” he said. “We’ve got a good core of kids back and hopefully we can make some noise.”
Senior Brooke Mann returns as the team’s number one pitcher with two years of starting experience under her belt.
“She’s done a nice job for us,” Weir said, adding that having a number one pitcher with so much experience benefits both the team and him as a coach. “You still have to put the work and the reps in but it makes a big difference,” he said.
Joining Mann in the lineup is a talented group that includes Kyrah Andrades, Bella Garlick, Kara Mertz, Bella Strong and Lexi Sutphin.
“We have a pretty good nucleus and hopefully we can fill in with some of the kids that have been around a little bit,” Weir said.
“We try to create chaos on the basepaths, hit the ball hard and play good defense. If you do those things you’re probably going to be in most games you play.”
A couple of new developments in the area could make for a very interesting season come playoff time. State powerhouse Deposit-Hancock will now be competing in Class C, opening a path for Class D teams that have fallen short in recent years.
Elsewhere, Charlotte Valley and Schenevus will be one merged team beginning this year for what figures to be one of the most talented rosters around: returning league all-stars Amber Burton, Autumn Burton and Serenity Hopkins of Schenevus will be joining forces with fellow all-stars Natalie Amadon, Abby Vroman and Brinlee Wright of Charlotte Valley.
Richfield Springs is coming off of a surprise run to the Tri-Valley League Championship and a spot in the Class D title game and returns many of its top players including All-State honoree Sophia Spencer as well as Issy and Gabby Seamon.
The team they beat in the TVL final, Edmeston/Morris, returns its own All-State standout in senior Hannah Wist but must replace several key members of last year’s lineup.
In the MAC, Sidney must replace 2024 Daily Star Player of the Year Ava Cirigliano but returns plenty of talent elsewhere, including all-league selections Sam Constable, Adrianna Tanner, Isabella West and Katelynn Youngs.
Bainbridge-Guilford is also a team to keep an eye on. Alessandra Cafasso was an All-State selection last year while teammates Breanna Casey, Jayslin Henderson and Danica Park return as All-MAC selections.
“I think there’s going to be some really good teams and I think there’s going to be some really good softball,” Weir said. “I’m looking forward to that.”
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Now, coach Bud Lippitt and the Hawkeyes softball team are looking to continue that success into the spring season.
“I’m very excited to see what we’re going to accomplish this year,” he said.
Cooperstown returns all but one starter from last year’s team that went 13-8 before falling in the Section III Class C Quarterfinals. It was a successful rebuilding year after the team lost several key players from its 2023 sectional title-winning squad.
But now expectations are sky-high once again with a team chock-full of talent and experience.
“I look at the group we’ve got coming back — they’re all a year older, their experience is that much better,” Lippitt said. “Some of the girls played travel ball in the offseason which is going to be nothing but a benefit. I’m really excited to see how we do. I’m not so much worried about the early season but boy, as the season progresses, it’s going to be fun to watch these girls.”
When asked about the strengths of this year’s team, Lippitt wasn’t shy about how he feels about the Hawkeyes’ bats.
“We’re going to be putting up a lot of runs. We’re going to hit the ball,” he said. “There’s not going to be a lot of pitchers that are going to stop us from scoring runs.”
Leading the offense once again will be junior Katie Crippen. A Fourth Team All-State selection last year and a varsity player since seventh grade, Crippen was a key cog in Cooperstown’s final four run and is back as the engine of the softball team’s attack.
“She’s the best softball player I’ve ever coached, without a doubt,” Lippitt said. “She’s absolutely amazing. You put her in the batter’s box, you better look out.”
Crippen already holds most of the school’s hitting records but will look to bounce back from a disappointing end to last season when she suffered a serious knee injury in the team’s playoff loss.
Crippen will once again be one of the Hawkeyes’ captains and makes up a strong leadership group that includes seniors Emmy Lippitt, Bella Reich and Grace Sperry.
Lippitt and junior Jensen Merwin return as Cooperstown’s top pitchers and will also be key components at the plate.
With so much experience returning, Lippitt said it’s a benefit as a coach to not have to give a second thought to the cohesion of his team.
“That’s been one thing I’ve really been emphasizing since we started last week, was how well our team gelled together [last year] and I think a lot of that was how our captains showed that great leadership,” he said.
Over in Section IV, there is no shortage of contenders including Laurens/Milford.
After winning the Tri-Valley League crown in 2023, L/M had a share of the regular season title last year but fell in the league playoffs and then the sectional quarterfinals.
But coach Jim Weir brings back many of his key players from last year and said he expects them to continue to make strides in 2025.
“We’re looking to be in the hunt again,” he said. “We’ve got a good core of kids back and hopefully we can make some noise.”
Senior Brooke Mann returns as the team’s number one pitcher with two years of starting experience under her belt.
“She’s done a nice job for us,” Weir said, adding that having a number one pitcher with so much experience benefits both the team and him as a coach. “You still have to put the work and the reps in but it makes a big difference,” he said.
Joining Mann in the lineup is a talented group that includes Kyrah Andrades, Bella Garlick, Kara Mertz, Bella Strong and Lexi Sutphin.
“We have a pretty good nucleus and hopefully we can fill in with some of the kids that have been around a little bit,” Weir said.
“We try to create chaos on the basepaths, hit the ball hard and play good defense. If you do those things you’re probably going to be in most games you play.”
A couple of new developments in the area could make for a very interesting season come playoff time. State powerhouse Deposit-Hancock will now be competing in Class C, opening a path for Class D teams that have fallen short in recent years.
Elsewhere, Charlotte Valley and Schenevus will be one merged team beginning this year for what figures to be one of the most talented rosters around: returning league all-stars Amber Burton, Autumn Burton and Serenity Hopkins of Schenevus will be joining forces with fellow all-stars Natalie Amadon, Abby Vroman and Brinlee Wright of Charlotte Valley.
Richfield Springs is coming off of a surprise run to the Tri-Valley League Championship and a spot in the Class D title game and returns many of its top players including All-State honoree Sophia Spencer as well as Issy and Gabby Seamon.
The team they beat in the TVL final, Edmeston/Morris, returns its own All-State standout in senior Hannah Wist but must replace several key members of last year’s lineup.
In the MAC, Sidney must replace 2024 Daily Star Player of the Year Ava Cirigliano but returns plenty of talent elsewhere, including all-league selections Sam Constable, Adrianna Tanner, Isabella West and Katelynn Youngs.
Bainbridge-Guilford is also a team to keep an eye on. Alessandra Cafasso was an All-State selection last year while teammates Breanna Casey, Jayslin Henderson and Danica Park return as All-MAC selections.
“I think there’s going to be some really good teams and I think there’s going to be some really good softball,” Weir said. “I’m looking forward to that.”
Continue reading...
