Mercy College Head Softball Coach Mike Fazio welcomes another standout former student-athlete, Cassidy Wootten, to the Maverick Softball coaching staff.
"I am happy to have Cas as a new member of the staff for 2020," said Fazio. "She has joined the growing list of former players who have given back to our program by working as coaches while continuing their education, he continued. "The list includes current assistant coaches Skania Lemus and Baylee McCormick, who will begin their second season in the dugout with the Mavericks as well as former assistant coaches, Jackie Kielty (2017), Kati Golino (2017), Tayla Gardner (2014), Natalie Wabshinak (2014), Jenna Ausiello (2013), Cait Rohme (2012), and Krissy Lacik (2011)." "It's the healthy sign, when your former players, want to return to give back to the program," commented Fazio. "They want to help us to build on a culture of success and a winning which we worked hard to establish here since I became head coach in 2011."
Wootten, a local resident and a 2014 graduate of Ardsley High School, played a key role there at both shortstop and as a pitcher. Following her graduation, she played two years of JUCO ball at Monroe College in New Rochelle where she had a career average of .444 with 60 hits, 41 runs scored, 31 RBI, 10 doubles, three triples, and six home runs, nine walks and eight strikeouts, before transferring to Mercy in the fall of 2016. She saw action for the Mustangs as a utility player in 2015 but finished her career there as an outfielder in 2016. Upon joining the Mavericks for the 2017 campaign, she became a starter and played mostly third, with time in the outfield and as DP. "For her two years here, she was among our best players," Fazio stated.
"In 2017 and 2018, we put together back-to-back 30-win seasons while setting a record for the most wins in a single season. We made back-to-back post season appearances for the first time in Mercy Softball history, and our fourth for the program in my nine-year tenure. During those two years, Cas together with Skania and Baylee, played a key role in our team's success."
"That team won the first ECC Softball Championship in Mercy history on their way to our first-ever NCAA Regional Championship appearance and first-ever win in the NCAA Softball Championship," Fazio continued. That simply would not have happened without them," Fazio said. "As players they were clutch. They worked hard and knew what it took to win," he continued. "It is that knowledge of how to win, which they bring with them that I hope they can give to this young team."
"During our 2018 season, Cas was outstanding as the everyday shortstop and played a pivotal leadership role in us reaching the post season for the second consecutive season," added Fazio. She was a tough competitor who loved to play the game and hated to lose. During her senior year, she made her presence known by providing strong leadership on the field," Fazio added. She finished her two-year career at Mercy with a .354 average, 54 runs scored, 87 hits, 19 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, 61 RBI, 24 walks and 17 strikeouts.
"Cassidy, a sports management major at Mercy, has continued to work in the sport she loves, coaching a young travel team while working at Game On-13 in Elmsford, NY where she teaches softball skills. I am happy that she has chosen to return to Mercy and to be a part of our coaching staff," Fazio said. "I will rely on her to draw on her experience as a former player in the program, to help us strengthen our team culture. Her responsibilities will be to work primarily with the infielders on defense and to help develop our young hitters," he added.
