Corning senior Matti Johnston has been named by the New York State Sports Writers and Coaches Organization for Girls Sports as the Class AAA Player of the Year in New York for the 2026 softball season.
Johnston, a University at Albany commit, earned first-team all-state recognition for the third time after leading the Hawks to their fourth consecutive Section 4 championship.
She was one of 12 players from Section 4 to secure first-team all-state honors this season. Among those picks was Windham-Ashland-Jewett’s Hannah Tuttle, who was named Co-Player of the Year in Class D.
Johnston posted a 17-1 pitching record this season with a 0.83 ERA. She struck out 160 batters in 99 2/3 innings while surrendering 62 hits and 36 walks. Johnston’s career pitching record ended up at 39-8 with a 1.72 ERA, including a victory in the 2024 Class AAA state championship game.
At the plate this season, Johnson batted .525 (31-for-59) with 4 homers, 3 triples, 5 doubles, 23 RBIs, 36 runs, 28 stolen bases, a .623 on-base percentage, and a .915 slugging percentage.
She was joined on the Class AAA first team by Corning teammate Lauren DeRosa, a junior center fielder.
Class C state champion Deposit-Hancock had two first-team picks and Class B state semifinalist Susquehanna Valley had three players named to the first team.
The all-state team is edited by Perry Novak based on nominations compiled by coaches, officials, administrators, and sports writers.
All-state teams in classes AAA, AA, and A run five teams deep. Class B and C include four teams, and Class D runs through a third team.
Class AAA
Player of the Year: Matti Johnston, Corning, senior pitcher.
Co-Coaches of the Year: Richard Winiatowski, Lancaster; Alyssa Valente, Pine Bush.
Section 4 Selections
First team: Matti Johnston, Corning, senior pitcher; Lauren DeRosa, Corning, junior outfielder.
Third team: Hannah Kaufman, Corning, sophomore designated player.
Class AA
Player of the Year: Ava Papaleo, Ursuline, senior center fielder.
Coach of the Year: Dickie Woodridge, Fayetteville-Manlius.
Section 4 Selections
First team: Erin Gowe, Vestal, sophomore pitcher.
Second team: Caitlin Yearick, Horseheads, senior third baseman.
Third team: Maryn Morse, Union-Endicott, senior shortstop.
Fourth team: Aubrey Rogers, Vestal, senior catcher.
Class A
Player of the Year: Natalia Mancino, Averill Park, senior catcher.
Coach of the Year: Chris Woolgar, Pearl River.
Section 4 Selections
First team: Kaylee Hurba, Maine-Endwell, senior shortstop.
Second team: Taylin Gonzalez, Waverly, freshman pitcher/outfielder.
Third team: Isabel Hunter, Maine-Endwell, senior center fielder.
Fourth team: Jenevie Gallusser, Oneonta, sophomore shortstop/pitcher.
Class B
Player of the Year: Skylar Groom, Chatham.
Coach of the Year: John Brantley, Chatham.
Section 4 selections
First team: Lil D’Introno, Susquehanna Valley, senior pitcher; Danica LaBarre, Susquehanna Valley, senior catcher; Kylee Richardson, Susquehanna Valley, senior shortstop.
Second team: Paige Ells, Watkins Glen/Odessa-Montour, sophomore pitcher.
Third team: Olivia Somers, Whitney Point, senior pitcher/shortstop; Piper Mason, Lansing, senior shortstop.
Fourth team: Aurora Parlo, Thomas A. Edison, junior pitcher/utility.
Class C
Player of the Year: Addison Kota, Gowanda, senior shortstop/pitcher.
Coach of the Year: Les Funk, Pine Plains.
Section 4 Selections
First team: RaeAnne Feeko, Tioga, senior shortstop; Ivy Tice, Deposit-Hancock, junior pitcher/outfielder; Abbi Tracy, Union Springs, senior first baseman; Kadyn Appley, Deposit-Hancock, sophomore third baseman.
Second team: Paityn Delaney, Union Springs, senior pitcher/center fielder; Alessandra Cafasso, Bainbridge-Guilford, junior pitcher/shortstop.
Third team: Victoria Green, Deposit-Hancock, junior first baseman.
Fourth team: Ann Harvatine, Southern Cayuga, senior pitcher.
Class D
Co-Players of the Year: Hannah Tuttle, Windham-Ashland-Jewett, senior pitcher; Savannah Durham, Oakfield-Alabama, sophomore pitcher.
Section 4 selections
First team: Hannah Tuttle, Windham-Ashland-Jewett, senior pitcher.
Second team: Jenna Wilson, Afton, junior pitcher; Brinlee Wright, Charlotte Valley/Schenevus, senior pitcher.
Third team: Piper Cohane, Windham-Ashland-Jewett, senior third baseman; Bailey Thayer, Cherry Valley-Springfield/Sharon Springs, sophomore pitcher; Kylie Jordan, Windham-Ashland-Jewett, junior catcher.
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: 2 softball players from Section 4 named NYS Players of the Year
Reporting by Andrew Legare, Elmira Star-Gazette / Elmira Star-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Andrew Legare, Elmira Star-Gazette | USA TODAY Network
