Coe opting for UPJ
JEFFERSON TWP — Playing softball for most of her life, her senior year was going to be Brynnae Coe’s last on the diamond.
That was before the Knoch pitcher-outfielder had a conversation with Pitt-Johnstown coach Niki Pecora.
“Brynnae wasn’t planning on playing in college,” Knoch coach Gary Coe, also Brynnae’s father, said. “She’s going into nursing and wanted to concentrate on her studies.
“I’m glad she’s decided to play, though. There’s no reason why she can’t do both and I’m anxious to see how she does at the next level.”
And besides, she’s pretty good.
Coe hit a combined .365 in 141 plate appearances last year between Knoch and her summer squad, Team Pennsylvania. The latter is coached by Mars graduate and assistant coach Kara Sroka.
Coe struck out only once in 80 plate appearances with Team Pennsylvania.
“She has outstanding bat control,” her father said. “Brynnae usually hits in the leadoff spot for us, but we may move her to the No. 2 position in the order because she always gets the bat on the ball and she can bunt so well.”
The talk with Coach Pecora convinced Coe to continue her softball career.
“She said I’d have a good opportunity to come up there and play right away,” she said. “My immediate goal is to get on the field for them as a freshman. I know that will take a lot of work, but that’s what I want to do.”
Pitt-Johnstown is graduating seven seniors from this year’s team. It has five sophomores and three freshmen on the roster. The Mountain Cats won 10 of their first 15 games this season after finishing 9-27 overall last year, 8-22 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. Pecora is in her seventh year as head coach.
Freeport graduate Tori Radvan plays for UPJ and is hitting .250 with three RBU this season. She is 1-2 on the mound with a 2.95 earned run average in 19 innings pitched.
UPJ won a program-best 19 games in 2019.
“I like their coach. She’s looking to build something there and believes Brynnae can play a key role in that regard,” Coach Coe said.
“I see it as an opportunity to continue playing the sport I love,” Coe said. “They have a great nursing school there ... everything just came together so quickly. There was no doubt that was the place for me.”
Coe described batting as her strong suit. The Mountain Cats like her as an outfielder. She will do a lot of pitching for Knoch this spring.
“We’ll get her time in the outfield, too,” her father said.
Coe admitted that having her father as head coach of her high school team isn’t always easy. But it’s been beneficial at the same time.
“We talk a lot of softball at home, not just at the field,” she said. “I’ve learned a lot from him through the years. I grew up on this game.”
Following her high school season, Coe plans to play in a few tournaments for Team Pennsylvania again this summer before transitioning to college.
She hopes to become a nurse in a maternity ward or the intensive care unit down the road.
“I wouldn’t mind getting into coaching softball when I’m done playing, too,” Coe said. “Maybe not right away, but it’s something I would enjoy doing eventually.”
