New Robbinsville High School softball coach Niki Cognigni stands on the field during a practice March 21, 2014. (Photo by Albert Rende.)
The marriage of Niki Cognigni and Robbinsville High softball almost seems like it was pre-ordained by the softball gods.
On one hand, you have the newest school in Mercer County (at 10 years old) already building a strong winning tradition by virtue of two state championships and two Mercer County Tournament titles in the past three years.
On the other, you have a new coach coming in who grew up in one of the most tradition-rich softball programs in Bucks County. Cognigni was a four-year starting second baseman at Pennsbury High School and was part of two state championship teams.
If ever someone knew what it takes to keep a Ravens team heading in the right direction after they graduated two of the top players in Mercer County history, it’s a woman who hails from school that knows how to reload each year.
Thus, with pitcher Lauren Fischer and catcher Becca Freeman both graduated and playing Division I softball this year, Cognigni doesn’t feel the success has to end.
“I know what tradition is about,” the 24-year-old Cognigni said. “I tell the girls just because they lost two great players and I’m a new coach, it doesn’t mean the tradition that has been started just dies now. Everywhere I go I hear great things about this softball program.
“I take pride in being given this job. It makes me feel good. I saw a lot of great stuff at Pennsbury and now I get the chance to continue that kind of stuff somewhere else.”
But a winning tradition isn’t accomplished with just a four-year run. Now the Ravens must prove they can build upon what was done during the Fischer-Freeman era, especially since the Little League softball program continues to churn out teams that enjoy regional and national success.
It’s one of the reasons RHS Athletic Director Curtis Wyers turned to Cognigni.
“I liked Niki’s forward thinking and clear plan for the team, and I also like the various experiences and connections she will bring to the table,” Wyers said. “She understands the importance of keeping this rich tradition moving forward. It is no secret we should be very good for a lot of years to come. Niki has already shown interest in building a partnership with the Robbinsville Softball League and working together to build this into a powerhouse team for years to come.”
Robbinsville still has a Division I player on the team. Senior Leanna Gearhart is already ticketed for Delaware, having been recruited by Blue Hens assistant Lauren Cognigni—Niki’s sister. Lauren was also the one who recruited Freeman to Marist when she was an assistant there.
“It’s kind of funny,” Cognigni said. “My sister recruited them through travel ball teams. I don’t know if she realized what high school they went to. It all got pieced together. My father found out about this position for me, and then we find out that two girls Lauren recruited go there.”
Aside from Gearhart, the Ravens also return a talented pitcher in Hannah Olshevski, who has just been waiting her turn to show what she can do after Fischer left. Olshevski is about the only player Cognigni was certain of her position one week into preseason.
“She has the demeanor you want on the mound to carry the team,” the coach said. “She doesn’t show much. She laughs, has fun, not a lot gets under her skin from what I’ve seen so far. That’s someone you want to hold the ball and carry team. She throws hard and her ball moves, and her demeanor is a plus.”
Other than that, the coach tried to remain detached from last year’s team in order to take a fresh, objective approach to what she sees this spring.
“I was trying to make sure I didn’t know what anyone had done, who was the starting shortstop, anything like that,” Cognigni said. “I wanted to see for myself what I thought each girl could do. I know some girls won’t be playing the same positions they played last year.
“That makes it fun. And those girls trying out for different positions have fresh eyes on them now. They can show me what they have elsewhere.”
Gearhart had been at third base but could possibly move to shortstop while Megan Hevey goes from short to second to strengthen Robbinsville up the middle. Felicia Schumacher was getting a look at third base, which would allow Gearhart to move.
“Again, this is all tentative,” said Cognigni, who was discussing these plans just one week into practice. “If it works out I’m hoping that Leanna and Megan will be a great combination for us. They will be our leaders.”
Especially senior Gearhart, who wants nothing more than to add a third state title to her resume.
“She’s been there, she’s been on the team,” Cognigni said. “She definitely wants the tradition to move on.”
Morgan Psiuk returns in the outfield but was also getting a look at catcher. Freshman Sarah Motusesky, a star of last summer’s 12-year-old World Series team, has looked impressive, as has outfielder Gabby Manto.
“They’re a good team, they’re going to do very well,” Cognigni said. “I hope everyone is still expecting they’re going to win. I don’t know if pressure (to repeat as champs) the right word. When you’re starting the new season with a completely new catcher and pitcher duo, it’s almost like a fresh team. The infield has to work behind them and figure out the pitcher. It’s not the pitcher they’re used to.”
It is Cognigni’s job to put it all together, and she has the pedigree to make you think she can do it.
Cognigni comes from a softball family. Both of her aunts played for Pennsbury along with she and her sister. Cognigni then went on to be a four-year starter at shortstop for the University of Pittsburgh.
It was there where she first got a little taste of coaching.
“We would have camps that the players ran,” Cognigni said. “The coaches were there but we were at each station running things. That helped me realize I liked coaching. It motivated me.”
Cognigni is now an assistant coach for the esteemed Newtown Rock Gold summer team, and does clinics with Ken Erikson, the University of South Florida and U.S. National team coach.
“Right out of college I had been coaching travel ball,” Niki said. “I wasn’t sure what direction I wanted to go with coaching, whether it was college or high school. Coaching the travel team I worked a lot with the girls to help them go to college, so I was familiar with both levels.
“I have worked with a lot of college coaches, so if I wanted to, there would have been opportunities. But I hadn’t approached any because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. This opportunity came along and I figured it was a good opportunity to see where I wanted to go. I like working with the younger girls better right now.”
Wyers was certainly happy with Cognigni’s decision.
“She had opportunities to coach at the college level,” he noted. “But she chose Robbinsville for a reason: knowing the importance of softball at the high school and in the community. She is young, and she is not far removed from the softball world. She understands the importance of recruiting, promoting players, attending showcases, academics, and building the team mentality.”
Cognigni lists her sister as her biggest influence in getting into coaching, as she and Lauren bounced ideas off each other. Once she researched Robbinsville, Cognigni began to see some familiar trends.
“When reading about them and what they’ve done the last few years, it brought me back to my high school days,” she said. “They needed a new coach. I thought I could benefit them and teach them more. I’ve been in certain situations, I know what they’re going through, I know what tradition is all about.
“I know a lot of girls’ dreams are D-1 softball or college in general. I can help them with that experience of being recruited from being a travel ball coach. I have contacts with college coaches. And with me being so recent to doing it myself, we talk about representing Robbinsville softball and how that doesn’t ever stop. I tell them wearing that R across your chest means more than you might think.”
It was kind of like wearing that P across the chest at Pennsbury. And Cognigni is looking to be a bridge between the success of her former team and the continued success of her present squad.
,
