Few coaches or players could remember a first day of spring sports practice more beautiful than March 9. With the sun high in the sky and the air smelling of warmer days to come, East Hampton baseball, softball, lacrosse, tennis, track, and flag football ushered in the season.
“Just when we were all worried about whether we were going to be able to get out on the fields, the man upstairs made it happen for us and we just couldn’t be more appreciative,” said Kathy Masterson, East Hampton’s athletic director, who will be retiring after this season. “A little soggy, but we were able to get on the fields. Everybody is out. Everybody is playing. Even having the turf on the baseball field has helped out. The town has been amazing letting us go over and use Stephen Hand’s Path for softball, and that’s all cleared up and good to go this year.”
The first day of spring sports was the last first day for Masterson, but it hadn’t sunk in just yet.
“I don’t feel any different. The weirdness for me is going to come next fall when I’m not standing on the fields the first day. This is not weird for me. This is me,” she said while whipping around the fields in her all-terrain vehicle, which will be passed along to the next athletic director. While the district has its sights set on some potential candidates, the interview process is just beginning.
As for spring sports, Masterson believes all of her student-athletes are capable of success, but says there are a few spring sports that are sure to excel.
“Teams to watch: definitely softball, definitely baseball, definitely tennis. Track always does really well,” Masterson said. “I expect big things from everyone. We have a great commitment here. Our kids are multisport athletes here, which we love. They love what they do and watching them transition from one season to another is awesome.”
Baseball
Bonac boys baseball made it to the Suffolk County championship last year, losing to East Islip. This season has tremendous potential, but Vinny Alversa, the head coach, has some big decisions to make first.
“We lost a lot of seniors. We had a ton of depth last year,” Alversa said. “The juniors are going to step up. I just don’t know who’s going to go where. I’m definitely excited. We’ve got a lot of things to figure out — we’ve got to see where we’re going with starting rotations and outfield positions.”
One of those decisions is who will start at catcher. Alversa is currently deciding between a senior, a sophomore, and an eighth-grader, if you can believe it. “You look at him and you don’t even realize he’s an eighth-grader. All three of them are pretty talented.”
Several of last year’s stars are returning, including left-handed pitcher Trevor Meehan, Finn O’Roarke, a right-handed pitcher, Mason Miles, and Livs Kuplins, all seniors now. Alversa called Kuplins, who can play several different positions, one of the greatest athletes he’s ever seen. “He does everything and he does it at a very high level. I remember my oldest son and Livs were 6 or 7 and we were at a soccer clinic. They moved Livs up to the 11-12-year-old group because he did so well. He’s the best athlete I’ve ever seen, period.”
He also expects big things from O’Rourke and Meehan. “Finn is a stone-faced killer. In the playoffs [last year], he was unbelievable. And Trevor, is just . . . he’s Trevor. It’s the work ethic. I could go on and on about Trevor, not even athletically, just as a human being.”
Alversa says Jackson Carney, a right-hander, could very well step into the third pitching spot, but will play an important role whether he’s on the mound or in the infield.
It’s going to be tough, but fun,” Alversa said.
While the softball team is just getting started, Jason Menu, the head coach, said the girls and the coaching staff have been working hard over the last 10 weeks to prepare for the season. It’s a senior-heavy group, but Menu says they also have a lot of young talent on both varsity and junior varsity. “We have top-100-in-Suffolk-County talent in our infield and in our pitching and that should have a big impact on our goal of competing at a high level,” Menu said. “Our ace, Izzy Briand, who has signed to play at Dominican College next year, is geared up for a tremendous senior season.”
Expect the middle infield — Olivia Dodge, Colleen McKee, Mary Jane Vickers, all seniors — to pick up where they left off in their bid to be a playoff team. At third base, he called Alexa Schaffer, a sophomore, one of the most talented players in the league. Also look out for Lydia Rowan, who will pitch and play centerfield along with Brynley Lys, a catcher and outfielder; Ella Abran, a pitcher and outfielder, and Hailey Rigby, an outfielder. They’re all seniors who Menu says will have a significant impact on the team’s success.
“We have had tremendous community support over the last few months, particularly from the Hub and Shelley Schaffer, as well as the members of the East Hampton Town Little League programs, the Town of East Hampton, and its business owners as well. We really appreciate all their support.”
Flag Football
In its fourth season, flag football has become so popular that the school is adding a junior varsity team to help build out the program.
“It’s been amazing to give these girls this opportunity,” Erin Gillot, the varsity head coach, said. “We haven’t been the most successful in terms of wins, but our girls play hard and that’s all we ask of them. So we’re excited for some new players, new opponents, and seeing where this season takes us!”
Seven of last year’s players are returning this spring. Gillot hopes they’ll set the tone and expectations for this year’s newcomers. “We have a lot of new athletes this year, so a big focus for us will be developing chemistry and learning the game, since this is the first time many of these girls are playing flag football.”
South Fork Lacrosse graduated just one starter last year, which Matt Babb, the head coach, hopes will enable the team to compete at a high level and make a strong push to the playoffs this season.
“The team returns many experienced players who will be expected to lead both on and off the field. Our focus this season is on quick ball movement, and maintaining intensity throughout all four quarters.”
So far, Babb said the boys have shown strong effort and a positive team culture. There are several players to watch this spring, including Zane Karoussos, a junior who has already committed to play lacrosse at Cornell University after high school. He plays midfield and long stick midfield. Babb also expects big things from Michael Single and Brayden Talmage, both junior middies. Theo Ball and Nate Barbour, defensemen; James Corwin and Tyler Rogers, attacks, and Oliver Edson, the goaltender, are all seniors to watch. And don’t sleep on Harry Karoussos, Zane’s little brother, a freshman who also plays midfield and long stick midfield.
Girls Lacrosse
The girls team is without several standout players who graduated last year, but Joe DiGirolomo, the head coach, says there are a bunch of new faces who are hungry to make their mark on the program.
DiGirolomo expects Lola Eldridge, a team captain who plays midfield, to have a dominant season after a strong sophomore year. The junior has already committed to play lacrosse at Mercer University after she graduates from East Hampton in 2027.
There are also three seniors who are sure to shine. “Senior captain Hailey Welsch will provide great experience on the defensive end, while also seeing an expanded role on the offensive end this season,” he said. “Senior attack Katie Grande will look to add to her scoring numbers from a season ago as she will be a focal point of the offense. Senior midfielder Abby Perello looks to have a much larger role as someone who can provide relentless effort on both ends of the field.”
The boys tennis coaches are still evaluating who will make the varsity team, though Pablo Montesi, their head coach, said the team has been enthusiastic heading into each practice. Weather, however, has been a challenge.
“We had snow on the courts, and even got rained on, but the team is finding its rhythm and looking forward to every opportunity to practice,” he said. “Every minute we spend on the court helps us improve and get to know each other better as teammates.”
One of those teammates, Griffin Beckmann, is the valedictorian of the class of 2026. “He’s the valedictorian of the school. Our salutatorian is Charlie Stern, a track and football athlete. If that doesn’t speak to well-rounded student athletes, I don’t know what does. They’re both amazing young men,” Masterson said.
“The boys track and field team is excited to kick off another competitive season, bolstered by a strong group of returning athletes ready to lead the program to new heights,” said Sean Knight, their head coach.
Xavier Johnson, a Bridgehampton junior, brings speed in both the individual races and the relay. A state-meet qualifier, Johnson ran the 400 meters in 51.53 last season. He was also part of the 4-by-400-meter relay team that qualified for the Penn Relays — the nation’s oldest and largest track and field competition. “His experience at the highest levels of competition will be invaluable this spring,” Coach Knight said.
Liam Knight, Coach Knight’s son, returns as a senior member of the team’s sprinting squad. Last season, Knight posted a 51.58 in the 400 meters and, like Johnson, ran in the state qualifiers and on the Penn Relay qualifying 4-by-400 relay team. Knight also runs the 200 meters. This is his last high school track season before heading to Roger Williams where he’ll swim and run track. “Liam is thrilled to be back and expects to build on last year’s success,” Coach Knight said.
Jasper Samuelson, a sophomore, is coming off an impressive indoor track season, where he led the distance runners with a personal record of 4:36.22 in the 1,600 meters. Not one to waste any time, Samuelson is set to compete at the Adidas Track Nationals this weekend in Virginia Beach, where he’ll run the mile.
In the field events, watch out for Franco Palombino. The multi-event thrower posted a personal best of 41 feet, 4 inches in shot-put last season and continues to develop in both shot-put and discus. Coach Knight called him a force and is hoping Palombino will have an All-County throw this year.
“With athletes training hard and arriving in excellent shape, the team is confident heading into what promises to be a successful season,” Knight said. “We are excited to add Coach Thomas Brierley to the team this year! Thomas has had many successful seasons with both boys and girls swimming and we look forward to working with him.”
Girls Track
Girls track has an impressive roster of over 40 runners from grades nine through 12 this season and is welcoming two new girls from flag football, Merritt Bistrian-Emptage and Ashlyn O’Donnell. While many of this year’s runners have previous experience, Yani Cuesta, their head coach, said they are eager to expand their potential and try new events. “We’re excited to see how far we can take the majority of the team.”
Since the first beautiful day of practice, the weather has been challenging for the track team, but Coach Cuesta said that’s par for the course. “We will continue to roll with it as we get to know each and every one of our newest athletes.”
Keep an eye out for Leah McCarron in the field events. Last month, she set a new school record of 32 feet, 11.5 inches in the shot-put. C.J. Echavarria, Sophia Figueroa, Bennett Greene, and Sara O’Brien are all back this spring. Along with McCarron, the foursome made it to the state-qualifier meet this winter. Echavarria, a junior from Bridgehampton, and Figueroa, an East Hampton High senior, both compete in the 55-meter high-hurdles. Greene, a senior from Pierson High School, is a racewalker. O’Brien, also a Pierson senior, races the 600 meters.
