Top photo caption: Izzy Cino can not only field her position at second base, she led the Griffins with 10 home runs and 34 RBI last season. Photo by Viki Hay
By Rich Fisher, Contributing Editor
Only in a program like Donovan Catholic can a team graduate five seniors who are now playing college softball, and still return six players committed to play in college – five who will go Division I.
It’s the continuing saga of methodically replenishing the talent at the Toms River school, which comes off a season in which it went 26-2 and won its sixth NJSIAA Non-Public A South title under coach Debbie Schwartz.
With half the starting lineup and two key pitchers gone from that team, Schwartz will count on her veterans to maintain the winning tradition she instilled since taking over in 2013.
“We empower our seniors; they are our leaders,” said one of New Jersey’s top mentors, now entering her 37th campaign as a head coach. “They’re the ones that drive the bus and are going to set the tone and the culture of winning for the younger kids. It’s about getting those younger kids to understand this is a competitive environment. You play as hard as you can in practice and games and that whole attitude prevails through the program.
“Hopefully the seniors get everybody on the same page. And when I say seniors, I mean juniors and sophomores who were on the field last year. The culture is in place, and the kids set the tone.”
There is some big-time talent setting that tone as senior college commits are Bella Maria (Auburn), Caroline Kopp (Wagner), Amelia Wescott (Pitt-Johnstown) and Jaelynn Nunez (University of Maryland-Baltimore County), and junior verbal commits are Gylian Hixenbaugh (Dartmouth) and Izzy Cino (Maryland).
Hixenbaugh is back to anchor the pitching after forging a 1.06 earned run average and striking out 71 in 72-2/3 innings as a sophomore.
“Gylian has picked up speed and her movement is great,” Schwartz said. “She has grown as a pitcher in a very positive way.”
Also in the circle will be Kopp and freshman Kourtney Murphy.
“Caroline did not pitch a lot last year,” Schwartz said. “She pitched a few innings in spots but she’s talented. She’s gonna be a little bit of a surprise for people. We haven’t used her a lot, but she’s developed into a very talented player/pitcher. And Kourtney Murphy is also talented.”
The coach feels her everyday lineup is still a work in progress.
“It’s evolving,” she said. “We have a lot of experience at the top. We’re trying to develop talented hitters in the middle and at the bottom, just like every coach in the state of New Jersey. We’re hoping some kids fill some big shoes from our graduation.
One of the top returning bats is Nunez, the catcher who hit a team-high .479 with nine home runs, 11 doubles and 33 RBI last season. Nunez was part of a back-to-back home run attack in last year’s sectional championship win over St. John Vianney.
Wescott could also see time behind the plate. In just 14 at-bats last year she drove in eight runs on four hits.
Working her way back into first base is junior Mia Kelliher, who missed 2025 with an injury. Second base is held down by Cino (.457, team high 10 HRs and 34 RBIs). Shortstop is Kopp (.347, 5 HR, 5 doubles, 21 RBI) or sophomore Savannah Geniton, while freshman Riley Laing is making a bid for the third base job.
Maria (.434, 3 HR, 3 triples, 8 doubles, 18 RBI, 15 stolen bases) is in center after finishing second on the team with 43 hits in 2025. Senior Maddy Kelliher could be in right after hitting .300 with six stolen bases in limited time last year. Left is a battle between junior Molly Hoops, who produced five hits and six RBIs in just seven at-bats, and sophomore Julianna Vignets.
“We have a lot of talented sophomores, we’ll see how things evolve,” Schwartz said. “We’re still figuring things out.”
It’s the kind of figuring that Schwartz lives for. After 25 successful seasons at Toms River East, she enters her 12th season (13th year, counting the COVID year) with the Griffins, having turned Donovan Catholic into a state power.
She is still loving it.
“Oh God yes,” Schwartz said. “I wouldn’t be doing it if I wasn’t. It just gets in your blood.”
She also pointed to “my phenomenal staff” of Dawn Dziedzic, Kathleen Sharp, daughter Corey Schwartz and Sherri Jamison.
“We’re all softball junkies,” she said.
And while the staff wants Donovan to keep winning, it also plans to enjoy just working with this year’s crop of players.
“What I love about this team is they are extraordinarily coachable,” Schwartz said. “They’ve got a great attitude and approach to the game. It’s refreshing as a coach to deal with kids like this. I feel with that alone, we’re going to have a very successful season. It’s going to be a fun ride with these kids every single day.”