SPRING SPORTS: NEWARK VALLEY PITCHER DOESN'T WANT TO THROW IN THE TOWEL (2020-04-21)

BY TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
NEWARK VALLEY — Newark Valley catcher Marissa Berghorn and center fielder Jordan Stiffarm have previously shared their feelings on the effect the Covid-19 pandemic has had on their senior season of softball.

Now, Cardinal pitcher Cassidy Hoffmier throws her thoughts into the fray as she too stands helpless to strike out the deadly public health crisis.

"Covid-19 is making it so I won’t be able to finish out my last year of softball, which really sucks since I have been playing on varsity since I was in eighth grade. I wanted to be able to finish strong," she said. "I feel like the season will not resume, especially now that school was pushed back to May 15, but I am still hoping that we will!"

Hoffmier has not given up hope that  NV might still get back on the diamond, so she continues to stay prepared just in case.

"Although the season is postponed for right now I am still doing everything I can to make myself better," she said. "Marissa Berghorn and I have continued going to the field and working on our hitting. We even have a done a few home run derbies which has made our practice super fun and competitive!"

The Cardinals went 10-8 in 2019 in a turnaround from a 4-12 campaign in 2018, and believed they were destined for even greater success this season.

With Hoffmier in the circle and Berghorn behind the plate, the longtime NV battery was expected to be at the top of IAC Division 3, if not one of the best in the entire league and in the Section IV Class B ranks.

The two teams which have proved to be the biggest thorn in Newark Valley's side, Waverly and Notre Dame, both graduated their aces. The Wolverines also graduated their catcher and top outfielder. Meanwhile, ND also graduated its first baseman and longtime head coach Steve Weber resigned.

Among Newark Valley's returning players were IAC D-3 first-team picks Berghorn and junior shortstop Allie Wandell, IAC honorable mentions Hoffmier and senior second baseman April Simmons, as well as senior center fielder Stiffarm, senior first baseman / outfielder Sarah Mertson and junior outfielder Bri Beebe.

"I felt like this year was going to be the best year yet," Hoffmier said. "My whole team has been working hard throughout the off-season and during the few practices that we were able to get through."

"Bri Beebe, a junior, had worked so hard throughout the summer in the outfield and I was excited to see what she was going to do. Marissa and I have been working since November at the gym and continued to work in the cages through out the winter season.

Even though NV was moving up from Class C to Class B this season, their longtime pitcher is confident this would be a successful season.

"We had a lot of returners and it looked like we could make a run for it when we made it to the sectional tournament," Hoffmier said. 

"For me, I hoped to play to my fullest potential anywhere that Coach (Jason) Monte planned to put me. He had me in a few different positions at our practices, so I was excited to see how the season played out and where he would have put me.

"I also was excited to see what I could do at the plate! I know I had a good season offensively last year, but I felt like this year would have been even better." 

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IN PHOTO: NV's Cassidy Hoffmier. ... TCSR STOCK PHOTO.