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Corning isn't focused on defending its Class AAA state championship. The Hawks are instead aiming to get better day-by-day to put themselves in position to make a postseason run in May.
If that leads to a third New York State Public High School Athletic Association softball championship for the program since 2019, all the better.
"We don't think about that stuff," said Hawks head coach Mike Johnston Jr., who was named Class AAA Co-Coach of the Year in New York last year. "We're all about culture in our program.
"I'd be remiss if I didn't say we go out and we expect to win when we play. Our kids believe that. That's part of how we build our program. The kids put a lot of time into it as well and really proud of their efforts. We coach them hard, but we love them just the same."
The last time the Hawks were in position to repeat as state champs, the pandemic led to cancellation of the 2020 season. Corning won a Section 4 title in 2021, but there was no state tournament because of COVID.
Following Wednesday's 16-3 victory over Elmira, Johnston said Corning is still finding itself but getting closer each game.
Corning is for sure finding home plate. In the Hawks' first three official games, they outscored opponents by a combined 41-4. Corning and 2024 Class AA state semifinalist Vestal played to a 12-12 tie, but per Southern Tier Athletic Conference rules the teams will start over when they see each other again.
The Hawks have dominated with four-year starting shortstop Kendall Curreri sidelined by a sore hamstring. Johnston is hopeful she can return during the Grand Strand Softball Classic in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, from April 14-16. While there, Corning will face three Virginia foes that have won state titles in recent seasons.
"For us it’s about team bonding and building relationships," Johnston said. "The kids get an opportunity to go play in some warm weather for a change. I’m over this cold weather."
Corning returns seven regulars from its 2024 lineup and six players who were full-timers defensively.
Leading that group is junior pitcher Matti Johnston, the coach's niece and a first-team Class AAA all-state pick in 2024 by the New York State Sports Writers and Coaches Organization for Girls Sports.
Johnston hit two of Corning's four homers and pitched a six-hitter in the win over Elmira. Over the first three games, she has struck out 24 and given up three earned runs in 18 innings.
Three other players have homered this season for Corning: senior second baseman Kayleigh Sparks, freshman third baseman Sophie Schoonover, and seventh-grade catcher Katie Grover.
The Hawks have five players on the roster who are freshmen or younger, with Schoonover joined by eighth-grade outfielder/pitcher Emelia Smith as key players from last year among that group.
More: HS Softball: 14 players to watch in the Elmira-Corning region in 2025
Mike Johnston praised freshman Mia Madden for doing "a great job" at shortstop filling in for Curreri.
"We’ve always got kids that maybe are seventh-, eighth-, ninth-, 10th-graders, but they put a lot of time into it and they’ve earned that opportunity," Mike Johnston said.
"We always share that the game doesn't know how old you are and it doesn't care."
Curreri, Johnston, senior first baseman Daphne Sherman and sophomore center fielder Lauren DeRosa give Corning four players who were all-conference or all-division last year in the Southern Tier Athletic Conference, which has a strong claim as the New York's top softball league.
Johnston said DeRosa is as good or better than any center fielder around, and he said the work Sparks put in at the plate in the offseason has paid off.
Depth is a strength. Lauren Teribury, part of Corning's 2023 team, is back after returning from New Jersey. Keana Mann is an athletic addition from Pennsylvania's Cowanesque Valley High School.
More: Section 4 softball 2025: Results and top performers
With only two AAA teams in Section 4, the sectional final between Corning and Elmira is already determined.
"Every game kids are getting a tryout to show us what they can do," Mike Johnston said. "For us, ultimately there’s two AAA teams and it’s a 16- to 18-game, 19-game scrimmage. You go out and you try to get better every single day. That’s our goal right now is we want to get one percent better every single game we step on the field."
Follow Andrew Legare on Twitter: @SGAndrewLegare. You can also reach him at [email protected]. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Defending state champ Corning softball team off to strong start
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If that leads to a third New York State Public High School Athletic Association softball championship for the program since 2019, all the better.
"We don't think about that stuff," said Hawks head coach Mike Johnston Jr., who was named Class AAA Co-Coach of the Year in New York last year. "We're all about culture in our program.
"I'd be remiss if I didn't say we go out and we expect to win when we play. Our kids believe that. That's part of how we build our program. The kids put a lot of time into it as well and really proud of their efforts. We coach them hard, but we love them just the same."
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The last time the Hawks were in position to repeat as state champs, the pandemic led to cancellation of the 2020 season. Corning won a Section 4 title in 2021, but there was no state tournament because of COVID.
Following Wednesday's 16-3 victory over Elmira, Johnston said Corning is still finding itself but getting closer each game.
Corning is for sure finding home plate. In the Hawks' first three official games, they outscored opponents by a combined 41-4. Corning and 2024 Class AA state semifinalist Vestal played to a 12-12 tie, but per Southern Tier Athletic Conference rules the teams will start over when they see each other again.
The Hawks have dominated with four-year starting shortstop Kendall Curreri sidelined by a sore hamstring. Johnston is hopeful she can return during the Grand Strand Softball Classic in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, from April 14-16. While there, Corning will face three Virginia foes that have won state titles in recent seasons.
"For us it’s about team bonding and building relationships," Johnston said. "The kids get an opportunity to go play in some warm weather for a change. I’m over this cold weather."
Strong nucleus back for Hawks
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Corning returns seven regulars from its 2024 lineup and six players who were full-timers defensively.
Leading that group is junior pitcher Matti Johnston, the coach's niece and a first-team Class AAA all-state pick in 2024 by the New York State Sports Writers and Coaches Organization for Girls Sports.
Johnston hit two of Corning's four homers and pitched a six-hitter in the win over Elmira. Over the first three games, she has struck out 24 and given up three earned runs in 18 innings.
Three other players have homered this season for Corning: senior second baseman Kayleigh Sparks, freshman third baseman Sophie Schoonover, and seventh-grade catcher Katie Grover.
The Hawks have five players on the roster who are freshmen or younger, with Schoonover joined by eighth-grade outfielder/pitcher Emelia Smith as key players from last year among that group.
More: HS Softball: 14 players to watch in the Elmira-Corning region in 2025
Mike Johnston praised freshman Mia Madden for doing "a great job" at shortstop filling in for Curreri.
"We’ve always got kids that maybe are seventh-, eighth-, ninth-, 10th-graders, but they put a lot of time into it and they’ve earned that opportunity," Mike Johnston said.
"We always share that the game doesn't know how old you are and it doesn't care."
Curreri, Johnston, senior first baseman Daphne Sherman and sophomore center fielder Lauren DeRosa give Corning four players who were all-conference or all-division last year in the Southern Tier Athletic Conference, which has a strong claim as the New York's top softball league.
Johnston said DeRosa is as good or better than any center fielder around, and he said the work Sparks put in at the plate in the offseason has paid off.
Depth is a strength. Lauren Teribury, part of Corning's 2023 team, is back after returning from New Jersey. Keana Mann is an athletic addition from Pennsylvania's Cowanesque Valley High School.
More: Section 4 softball 2025: Results and top performers
With only two AAA teams in Section 4, the sectional final between Corning and Elmira is already determined.
"Every game kids are getting a tryout to show us what they can do," Mike Johnston said. "For us, ultimately there’s two AAA teams and it’s a 16- to 18-game, 19-game scrimmage. You go out and you try to get better every single day. That’s our goal right now is we want to get one percent better every single game we step on the field."
Follow Andrew Legare on Twitter: @SGAndrewLegare. You can also reach him at [email protected]. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Defending state champ Corning softball team off to strong start
Continue reading...
