By James Hernandez

James: With the 2016 season coming to a close, talk a little about your experience as a first year head coach. Please provide some insight into the team as well as the coaching staff.

Coach Montalto: It has been an interesting year to say the least James. This team has gone through a lot of adversity throughout the year and every member of the team has been forced to grow. I've seen players like Emily Guthrie and Jinger Meuir who have really grown into the players they are supposed to be. As a first year head coach I think it was obvious that I was going to run into some difficulties but I've taken everything that has been brought my way and used it as a learning experience. Failure doesn't exist to me, everything is a learning opportunity if you choose to see it that way. My staff has been the best support system this year. We've grown together as a staff and trust each other when it comes to making decisions about the team and what direction we want to take this program. Each one of my coaches want what is best for this team and we want to see the program succeed.

James: Kara Simpson had a career day in game two this past weekend versus CSI. Talk a little about her development this season, and what the future holds for this young coyote.

Coach Montalto: Kara Simpson is evolving into the player she was recruited to be. She has a cannon for an arm and can hit the ball very well. Her development and growth was more so in the mental aspect of the game and learning to get past a slump. I'm very impressed with her progress she has made in the past few weeks. The sky is the limit for Kara and if she continues on this path she will be a hitter that coaches try to pitch around next year.

James: How special is Sophomore Day going to be, considering you have been with Maggie, Chelsea and Tee since they first stepped on campus here at CSN?

Coach Montalto: Sophomore day is always special, but with these three I think it makes it a little more important. We've walked a path together that not a lot have. All three of them hold a special place in my heart and I am so pleased with the progress they all have made from last year. When I was coaching at the University of North Dakota, I walked in with a brand new freshmen class but I never got to see their senior year (this year). So this day will be pretty important to me, having walked in with these three and now I get to see them move on and fulfill their dreams.

James: What was the most difficult part of going from an assistant coach last season to becoming a head coach in 2016?

Coach Montalto: I think the most difficult task is learning how to manage everything, but still stay true to my specialty, which is hitting. In taking over the program, my focus point went from one thing to a million things, so hitting slipped away from me. Clearly I'm not pleased with our hitting performance this year, but I know come next year this team will be one of the best hitting teams in this conference.

James: Can you provide our readers with a brief scouting report of this weekend's opponent the WNC Wildcats?

Coach Montalto: WNC is very aggressive at the plate. They like to swing at the first pitch and they really don't like being walked. They'll swing the bat hard. They also will continue to fight during the whole game and will not back down. No matter how big of a lead you may have. This team is looking at their last few games as a program so they are going to bring everything that they have.

James: How important is it to send these three sophomores out with a winning weekend after a difficult season?

Coach Montalto: I think it's something this whole team could use. Sending the sophomore class out with a winning weekend would not only be important for them, but for the team confidence going into regionals. I want the sophomore class to enjoy this weekend and put their best foot forward. For Tiana and Chelsea this could be the last few games they play in the career and making sure they enjoy it is something that is very important to me.

James: When the season is officially over and you have some time to sit back and reflect, what will you miss most about this 2016 group of Lady Coyotes?

Coach Montalto: I'll of course miss the sophomore class and coaching them, but something I will definitely miss is growing together as a group. This has been a rough year for the Lady Coyotes, but watching their growth in softball as well as life has been rewarding in itself.

James: Can you please provide with your picks for the 2016 All-SWAC first team as well as your pick for SWAC conference player of the year?

Coach Montalto:

1. Maggie Manwarren-CSN
2. Mackenzie Mcbride-CSN
3. Arslanian-SNOW
4. Gall-SLCC
5. Bunderson-SLCC
6. Toller-CSI
7. Goalsind-CSI
8. Street-SNOW
9. Simons-SNOW
10. Everil-SLCC
11. Dahl-CSI

Player of the Year: Arslanian-SNOW

Thanks Coach, and as always good luck.  

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