For 13 years, Bob Fox was Riverhead softball. What he did for the program will never be erased. The families, coaches, fans and athletes will always rememeber his legacy. But all good things eventually come to an end.
Following last season, Fox announced his retirement; he was getting older and wanted to spend more time with his family. Everyone said their farewells but a question still lingered: who would replace him?
The first thought was Dave Mckillop. He had been the assistant coach for years so why not him? Turns out that he wanted to stay as an assistant. He thought maybe a former player would be a better option.
As time passed and the season approached, nobody had filled the position. Then, a notable coach in the area became available.
During all of this, Mcgann-Mercy began an overhaul of athletic leaders. Contracts weren’t renewed and coaches stepped down as a new athletic director made a statement of change to the community.
Jeff Doroski’s contract wasn’t renewed. He was essentially stripped of his football and baseball position.
“It was a rough month and a half,” Doroski said.
But luckily, he got word about an opening at Riverhead, for softball. He was already familiar with many in Riverhead as he coached football and baseball there in years past so that helped the process.
“After all the things at Mercy happened, they gave me a call,” Doroski said. “They asked me if I was interested in coaching softball. That’s how the ball got rolling.
“I talked to some people over at Riverhead, sat down with my family and after recognizing the great opportunity, I applied for the position and it all worked out,” Doroski said.
Fox was thrilled to hear Doroski on board to fill the position.
“It’s nice to know that a guy like Jeff’s taking over the program,” Fox said. “He’s going to be there awhile. It’s not going to be a one or two year stint. He’s from Riverhead. I think it was an excellent hiring and I think he’s going to be really successful.”
Though Doroski doesn’t really have a softball background — being more of a baseball coach — he’s confident that his skills will transfer well after speaking to Coach Fox.
“I asked him the same question,” Doroski said. “I wasn’t sure at first. A lot of it is actually baseball related. Fielding, hitting and a lot of the concepts are the same. The big thing is the pitching but I’m fortunate because the JV coach is Bob’s daughter Kelly Fox, and she works with the pitchers. Bob has made himself available and he gave me his blessing.”
The Blue Waves are coming off of a successful season in which they made the playoffs after finishing third in the league. They graduated the heart of their batting order — Alex Mckillop, Amanda Graziano and Megan Weiss — but many big bats still remain.
“A number of the girls are very consistent hitters, we have power in a couple of our bats, it will be interesting how this all falls into place,” Doroski said.
The new middle of the order is more or less determined already in the early going. Dani Napoli, Sara Tucci, Sarah Freeborn and Karla Vanston will make up the top of the order. Jess Freeborn is expected to fit her way in there as well.
There are however, a few that could have returned but didn’t in an effort to focus on another sport. Joscelin Morrow, who showed flashes of dominance last year on the mound is not playing this year; she’s elected to focus more on volleyball. Katie Mckillop chose to do track instead to concentrate on soccer.
“It’s part of the disadvantages of coming into a situation and not knowing the girls prior to taking this job,” Doroski said. “I would have tried to reach out to some of the girls before they made their decisions.”
Doroski was board-approved just a week before the season started.
“I can’t look back and say ‘well if this person was playing it would be different’,” Doroski said. “I have to make do with what I got.”
With Morrow not in the pitching circle, the Blue Waves will have to rely on freshman Casey Plitt and sophomore Jess Freeborn.
Stephanie Falisi won’t be in the starting lineup until around midway through the season; she’s recovering from offseason ankle surgery.
“I’m not looking to come in and replace anything that coach Fox has done, I think that’s hard to do when you got a guy that accomplished so much over the years in that program,” Doroski said. “I want to come in an pick up where he’s leaving off and put a competitive product on the field.”
Riverhead opens its league season on Thursday in West Babylon at 4 p.m.
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