After a 23-win season in 2023, the William Paterson Softball team’s win total plummeted, as they finished with five wins in all of 2024. There had to be a change regarding the coaching staff as Jessica Jacobson’s tenure did not go as planned as expected for a program that has two NCAA DIII World Series appearances and fourteen NCAA DIII Tournament appearances. Enter Kathy Hill, William Paterson Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Famer and former all-American standout. Now, in her third appearance in Wayne.
As a coaching staff member, she helped guide the Pioneers to three 30-win seasons (2012, 2014, 2015) and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances (2014, 2015). The Pioneers qualified for the conference tournament in all six campaigns. After leaving the Pioneers, she had a decorated career as a high school coach at her alma mater, Passaic Valley High School, completing one hundred twenty-six wins and being a two-time coach of the year.
As a student-athlete, Hill was a standout performer for the Pioneer softball program from 1989-92. She became the first all-American in program history in 1990 following a sophomore campaign that featured a single-season program record .455 batting average and 56 hits, along with 10 doubles, four triples, a home run, 33 runs scored, 36 RBI, and nine stolen bases.
Now taking the reins in 2025, Coach Hill has a lot on her plate to restore this program to its former glory.
Last season, William Paterson averaged a 5.69 ERA as a team with a 1.9 WHIP in just under 200 innings pitched. They allowed 295 hits, 211 runs, 162 errors, 83 walks, and 70 strikeouts. On the mound this season, there are a few familiar faces.
The roster has four pitchers, three of whom pitched last season for the Pioneers. Lilah Guthy had just below a 5 ERA last season and led the Pioneers in strikeouts, complete games, and innings pitched. Kylie Anthony and Lindsey Acker return to provide substantial depth to this pitching rotation. Anthony accumulated just above a 6 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP, and Acker, who only appeared in three games as a pitcher, had a 4.67 ERA and only allowed eight hits. Freshman Stephanie Ciravolo is in line to play immediately in her first campaign in Wayne after a storied high school career for Marlboro. She totaled 300 strikeouts and was the second athlete in school history to throw a no-hitter.
Batting-wise, in 838 at-bats, the Pioneers hit .261 with a .645 OPS and a slugging percentage of .338. This accumulated 219 hits, 91 runs, 82 RBIs, and four home runs.
Behind the plate, Kylie Bytharow batted .221, the second-highest returning batting average for any Pioneer who played more than half the season. She had a .481 OPS, seventeen hits, three RBIs, and a .260 slugging percentage. Gabby Vazquez, a transfer from East Stroudsburg University, is also expected to make an immediate impact. Joy Shand, who appeared in nineteen games last season, will provide some much-needed depth.
Two freshman catchers also come in: Rylie Nagle, a two-time state champion in high school at Ridgefield Park, and Abby Goetz, who recorded over one hundred RBIs and hits while at Westwood Regional.
In the infield, Hailey Becko is the key returner for this unit. She batted .194 with a .513 OPS and 13 hits. She’s expected to leap in year three as she will be called upon for her leadership and veteran presence. Sam Campos and Lauren Hutchinson are very intriguing this season for the Pioneers as they both batted below .200 but are projected to take strides. Hutchinson, especially now as a senior and a dual-sport athlete as a member of the Women’s Soccer Team, is more than likely at the end of her career as a Pioneer this spring, more than likely hoping to go out with a bang.
A Lot of this infield will be new. Taylor Palmieri, a transfer from Stockton University, has one career hit. Mikayla Reimer also returns, hoping to see more action after a one-hit season. Zoey Hagan had an awe-inspiring career at Brookdale Community College with just under a .400 batting average and four career home runs. She’s also expected to help behind the plate, but there’s a high chance she starts on Day 1. Grace Abraham, a freshman from Hackensack, slugged .507 for her career and may get an opportunity right away. Allison Stein is another player to keep a close eye on. She recently graduated from West Milford High School and led all of New Jersey in doubles as a sophomore.
The outfield may be the biggest question on this team. Courtney Schwark is now a senior after hitting .216 with 11 hits after her junior campaign. Outside of her, the outfield right now is a mystery, with many graduates from last year’s team. Lilah Guthy, the top pitcher for the a season ago, is expected to contribute in the outfield, as is fellow pitcher Stephanie Ciravolo, who batted over .400 for her high school career. Sam Campos will play the outfield and infield, as she had a .947 fielding percentage. Brandi Shortway had a remarkable .561 batting average at Bergen County Community College; the big question is, can she translate this into the Division III level?
This Pioneers team looks different this season. Four transfers and five freshmen will begin their careers for William Paterson this spring. There is a ton of change for the preseason projected 8th-place team in the NJAC.
Coach Hill also brought in a whole new staff with her this offseason. John Brogan has over 30 years of coaching experience at the high school level and was an assistant at Iona University. Vanessa Lenior, a 1994 William Paterson graduate, spent the past nine seasons as an assistant coach at Passaic Valley High School, working alongside coach Hill. She also brings along two former collegiate softball players, Diana Schraer, who pitched for WP from 2005 to 2008, and Gianna Kabu, a former division one softball player at Hartford.
William Paterson starts its season at Pioneer Softball Field on March 1st in a doubleheader against Farleigh-Dickinson Florham. They will then begin NJAC play on March 29th vs. Rutgers-Newark.
The big question is, will all these new talents work together and prove immediate success? Most programs take years to build the right kind of chemistry, and this new blend of returners and rookies will concern coach Kathy Hill and the company.
The Pioneers are entering a new era under Coach Kathy Hill, bringing in fresh talent and experienced leadership in hopes of restoring the program to its former glory. With a mix of returning players, impactful transfers, and promising first-year students, William Paterson has the potential to surprise in 2025. However, success won’t come easy—the team must quickly develop chemistry and elevate their play to compete in a challenging NJAC conference. As the season kicks off, all eyes will be on how this new-look squad comes together, aiming to reclaim their place among the conference’s best.
