Free clinics take aim at building Albany High softball program

[ASFN Admin]

You must be registered for see images attach

From left, Albany softball players Riley Witherspoon and Taylor Witherspoon, coaches Joe Mannarino and Riley Adams, and players Shairene Valenzuela and Emma Dalland, on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at the Arbor Hill Softball Field in Albany, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union) (Jim Franco/Times Union)


In looking at his two years coaching the junior varsity softball team at Albany High School, Joe Mannarino doesn't sugarcoat the results.

"If you look at the records," Mannarino said, "what we've done as a JV team is - flat out - kind of get our butts kicked."

But, both Mannarino and Albany City School District athletic director Kimberly Pilla see the potential to change that, at all levels of the program. That starts with providing access to the sport and opportunities to learn and play, especially for younger players.

That's why the district is holding a pair of free softball clinics, run by Mannarino and JV assistant coach Riley Adams, for players ages 8 to 14. The first clinic will be held Sunday, and the second will take place Aug. 3. Both will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the Arbor Hill Softball Field.

"We're grabbing them young, developmentally," Pilla said. "They're coming into their own. They're determining whether they have a passion for athletics or a specific sport. We're really trying to do that for our girls' sports."

The clinics will provide developmental softball instruction and drills, as well as time for fun games and water play. All participants will receive a free Albany Falcons T-shirt. All skill levels are welcome, but participants must arrange their own transportation to and from the clinic and are asked to bring a water bottle, towel, softball glove and sneakers or cleats.

You must be registered for see images attach

Albany High School junior varsity coach Joe Mannarino, who will be running free softball clinics, on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at the Arbor Hill Softball Field in Albany, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union) (Jim Franco/Times Union)


Mannarino said that 40 participants have already signed up to participate, either for one or both of the days.

"I want to dig my heels in and see if I can put in a run here for 10 to 12 years, and try to change the program, really flesh it out from the youth part," Mannarino said.

Softball is among the sports where Albany High has struggled, both in participation and on-field results, in recent years.

Despite being the third-largest school district in Section 2 in terms of enrollment, behind only Schenectady and Shenendehowa, Albany has three levels of softball in its program - varsity, JV and modified - while many other Suburban Council districts have participation levels high enough to support a fourth modified/9 program for ninth graders.

On the field, Albany's varsity team went 5-16 this past season and 0-11 in the Suburban Council, and the program hasn't played in the Section 2 tournament since 2024.

"I see other sports that prosper at Albany High," Mannarino said. "I see a very large school, comparable to Shenendehowa as far as students -- but, then, we look at the athletic participation, and that's substantially different. … It's about getting into the root of the community, introducing it at a young age and getting that on an annual basis."

"Oftentimes, we're seen as a big school district, and (people say), ‘Wow, you should be a powerhouse,'" Pilla said. "We have to look at the areas that need attention, the areas that are barriers that have been holding us back, and we have to create opportunities and support what we're doing for our kids."

Pilla said that Albany softball has been "awarded relief" by the Suburban Council for the upcoming school year, which should allow the program to build a more independent schedule. That formula worked for the district's baseball program, which has played an independent schedule in recent years and this past season reached the Section 2 Class AAA semifinals after a stunning upset of Christian Brothers Academy.

You must be registered for see images attach

From left Albany softball players Taylor Witherspoon, coach Joe Mannarino, players Riley Witherspoon and Emma Dalland, coach Riley Adams and player Shairene Valenzuela on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at the Arbor Hill Softball Field in Albany, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union) (Jim Franco/Times Union)


"Success breeds success, because kids say, ‘Hey, we have a shot. We're not losing by 20,'" Pilla said. "We've got a shot to be competitive, and then you're building capacity that year."

The softball clinics are part of a broader initiative to build participation and success for athletic programs throughout the district - particularly in girls' sports. Albany High has produced strong teams in some sports in recent years, with Pilla noting success in both basketball and track and field, but has lagged in others.

In addition to softball, Pilla mentioned girls' soccer as a program that's ripe to build for future success. She also noted that the district is implementing a free learn-to-swim program and expanding its swimming curriculum in physical education, which should in turn feed Albany's interscholastic swim teams.

"Our whole approach here in our department is diagnostic," she said. "It's based around, what are the needs? What are the challenges? What are the barriers? I think part of any good high school program is really derived from a good feeder program and kids getting involved at a much younger age.

"Not only are they getting the exposure, they're getting opportunities to participate and then determine whether or not this is something they want to pursue. Kids (at Albany) maybe don't have those opportunities when they're young for lots of reasons. Maybe there's not the access and the opportunity is not there like some of our Suburban partners."

Subscribe​

There’s more to Albany with the Times Union. Subscribe today for just 25¢.
This article originally published at Free clinics take aim at building Albany High softball program.

Continue reading...