He’s been batting around

Usually when a team gets a new coach, it involves an adjustment period for both sides.

But the Neumann-Goretti softball squad is bypassing the introductions with new skipper Mark Snyder.

Some already know him as "Mr. Snyder," who taught them in English class.

Others know him as the assistant coach who hit ground balls to them the last two seasons.

Now the players hope he’ll know how to turn around the familiar feeling of failure that left them with just two wins last year.

When Chip Reitano resigned as head coach last spring to become the school’s assistant athletic director, Snyder, 26, jumped at the opportunity to take over the program.

"I knew all the girls so it wasn’t a big adjustment," said the coach, who was officially promoted in June.

Tomorrow afternoon, his long wait to coach a game will end as the Saints open the Catholic League season at Cardinal O’Hara.

Snyder, who stopped teaching to enroll in Temple University’s master’s program in communications, said he looks forward to a fun season with the players.

"When I was a teacher, seeing the girls outside of the classroom and relaxed was a lot of fun," noted the Abington High grad, who lives in Conshohocken.

But Snyder also will face a challenge that has stymied his predecessors for the last two decades: convincing the players that they can win.

Other than clinching back-to-back Southern Division titles during the 1983 and ’84 seasons, the program has struggled to compete with the Catholic League’s upper-echelon teams.

Playing last season as the Goretti Lambs, the squad’s only two victories came against West Catholic. The former Lambs nearly defeated Hallahan, but lost in extra innings.

The coach acknowledged that the Saints have been intimidated by the opposition.

"It’s hard because the girls know what the competition is like around the rest of the league," said Snyder, who recently completed his third season as Neumann-Goretti’s coed swimming coach.

THIS SEASON, THE players get a fresh start with a new name and black, white and gold uniforms.

The Saints hope to inherit some of the success of the girls’ basketball team, which made the Catholic League playoffs for the first time in more than two decades earlier this month.

But for now, the team is focusing on the regular season and basic skills.

"I want them to be fundamentally sound and prepared for every play," Snyder said. "If they are prepared for every play, good things will happen."

The coach has a veteran group that includes seven seniors among the 13 players. The nucleus of Alicia Klevecka, shortstop; Megan Kelly, moving from catcher to first base; Kristie Sandefur, third base; and Katie Zeoli, pitcher-outfielder, is expected to lead the way.

"They were big contributors last year," Snyder said. "I am hoping the four of them take the team over themselves. This is kind of their team."

Cold and inclement weather has made it "difficult to get cohesive practices in," the coach said, but with more spring-like days, Neumann-Goretti is holding practices at Palumbo Recreation Center, 10th and Fitzwater streets, where the team also plays its home games.

In the next couple of weeks, Snyder expects to be able to evaluate his team’s standing among the Catholic League competition and make necessary adjustments. Many of the Saints face the challenge of playing in a new capacity.

"I think a lot of them realize they have to play a position that might not be their favorite position," Snyder said. "A lot of the girls are willing to play a position where they will help the team the most.

"We haven’t had a game yet, so it’s hard to gauge [the squad]," he added.

Instead of making predictions, the rookie softball coach is playing it safe, merely hoping to surpass last season’s record.

"I just want them to continue to improve," Snyder said. "I want them to be happy with the effort they put on the field and how they perform."