Panelists

Mike Alicea

Mike Alicea is the owner of Island Fastpitch, a youth softball organization bringing teams together through tournaments, clinics, and special events on Long Island, New York. His work centers on creating opportunities for young athletes to compete, develop their skills, and build confidence on and off the field.

From organizing tournament weekends to connecting players with college coaches through clinics, Mike takes a hands-on approach to the player and family experience. Through events that celebrate athletes, support meaningful causes, and bring the softball community together, he works to make Island Fastpitch about more than the final score.

Mike’s goal is simple: give players opportunities to grow, create experiences families remember, and help move girls’ fastpitch softball forward.

Joe Rigano

Joe Rigano co-founded Long Island Thunder with Paul Cirone in 2011 to help young softball players develop both athletically and academically. As president of the organization’s executive board, he helps lead a program that emphasizes competitive play, sportsmanship, and high standards on and off the field.

His softball experience also includes coaching Long Island Thunder teams and serving as a contact for the organization’s Summer Storm tournament and showcase events.

Anthony “Coach Caz” Casalino

With more than 25 years of fastpitch coaching experience, Anthony “Coach Caz” Casalino brings a lifelong passion for helping players grow on and off the field. He began coaching his daughters at the Little League and recreational levels before moving into highly competitive travel softball and college showcase development.

In 2005, he founded Team Nitro LI Fastpitch, one of Long Island’s longest-tenured active fastpitch organizations, where he coaches teams from 10U through 18U showcase. He is also a fastpitch instructor specializing in hitting, pitching, catching, fielding, throwing, and slapping.

In 2022, Coach Caz co-founded 88 Stitches Fastpitch in Deer Park, New York. After retiring from Wall Street, he became varsity softball head coach at St. Dominic High School in Oyster Bay in 2026. In his first season, he led the program to a 17–1 record and the NY Catholic Tier 2 League championship.

His coaching philosophy is centered on making each player better every day while building a lasting love for the game. He emphasizes the controllables: attitude, effort, and actions, within a relaxed, challenging, and enjoyable training environment.

Also: Team Nitro LI President and 18U Gold Recruiting Coordinator · 88 Stitches Fastpitch Co-Owner · Fastpitch Training Instructor
coachcaz.com · Team Nitro LI · 88 Stitches Fastpitch

Damian Cotto

Damian Cotto brings more than a decade of elite coaching experience to the softball community. As the Director of Training and Player Development for Long Island Pride, an assistant coach at St. Anthony’s High School, and the founder of DC Defense, Damian is dedicated to elevating the game through advanced athletic development, technical precision, and a relentless focus on player growth.

Kristyn Sandberg

Kristyn Sandberg is an Island Park, New York native, former professional softball player, and accomplished coach. A University of Georgia All-American, she helped the Bulldogs reach the Women’s College World Series in 2009 and 2010.

Selected fifth overall in the 2012 National Pro Fastpitch Draft, Sandberg earned Rookie of the Year honors, won two league championships, and was named to the NPF All-Decade Team.

Her coaching background includes Hofstra University, Syracuse University, LSU, and Sacred Heart Academy, with experience developing catchers, hitters, and outfielders.

Shari Edwards

Shari Edwards is a former NCAA Division I pitcher, collegiate pitching coach, member of the NFCA, and longtime pitching instructor who has dedicated her career to developing athletes both inside and outside the pitching circle.

A Smithtown native and Smithtown Hall of Fame inductee, Shari earned a full athletic scholarship to Northern Illinois University, where she was a member of the historic 1988 Women’s College World Series team that finished eighth in the nation. An All-Conference pitcher, she was inducted into the Northern Illinois University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002 alongside her teammates.

Following her collegiate career, Shari served as the pitching coach at Hofstra University from 1990 to 1993, working alongside her father, legendary Hofstra softball coach and Hall of Fame member Bill Edwards.

Shari also holds a master’s degree in Child and Family Studies and spent 25 years in social work, a background that continues to influence her approach to coaching and athlete development.

Today, Shari works with pitchers of all ages and competitive levels through individual instruction, group training, and specialized clinics. Throughout her career, she has helped hundreds of athletes navigate the recruiting process and find their college homes, while equally supporting those who choose not to continue playing at the collegiate level. She believes an athlete’s success is measured by much more than a scholarship or college commitment.

At the heart of Shari’s coaching philosophy is preparing the pitcher, not simply teaching someone how to pitch. Beyond mechanics, she emphasizes mental preparation, accountability, confidence, and understanding the game. Her ultimate goal is to develop pitchers who can think independently, make adjustments, and become their own best pitching coaches—while carrying those lessons well beyond the softball field.

Mike Stella, MA, ATC, PES, CES

Mike Stella is a Certified Athletic Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist, and Performance Enhancement Specialist dedicated to helping athletes overcome injuries, improve movement, and perform at their best. He founded The Movement Underground in Seaford, New York, bringing together rehabilitation, sports performance, and recovery.

His experience includes working with the University of Florida’s football and track and field programs and serving as rehabilitation coordinator and athletic trainer at George Washington University. Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine and athletic training from Marist College and a master’s degree in sports management from George Washington University.

At LISCA’s Building the Complete Athlete panel, Mike brings practical insight into injury prevention, movement quality, recovery, and developing a strong foundation for long-term athletic success.

Frank Marinello

Frank Marinello brings more than two decades of coaching experience and a proven record of developing collegiate athletes. Before leading Brooklyn College’s softball program, he built Fontbonne Academy into a high school powerhouse, compiling a 376–120 record and capturing the 2013 CHSAA AA championship.

An eight-time CHSAA Coach of the Year, Marinello was inducted into the Girls Catholic High School Athletics Association Hall of Fame in 2022. He has also led Empire Fastpitch since 2012. Across his high school and travel ball programs, he has coached more than 100 players who went on to compete at the collegiate level.

A Brooklyn native, Marinello brings extensive experience in player development, recruiting, and preparing student-athletes for the next level.

Steve Smith

Steve Smith joins the LISCA panelist lineup. Additional speaker details will be announced.

Marc Fazio

Marc Fazio brings 50 years of coaching experience across multiple sports, with a distinguished career in softball at the collegiate, high-school, and showcase levels.

As Hofstra University head coach from 1986–1988, he improved the program from a 7–14 record in his first season to 24–11 in his third, while producing two Academic All-Americans. He also served as head coach of the Empire State Games teams in 1987 and 1988.

At SUNY Old Westbury, Marc was an assistant and pitching coach from 2006–2015. He helped build the program from a 10–22 first season to a program-best 26–19 record in 2012. During that span, the staff earned Skyline Conference Coach of the Year honors, and Marc helped develop 2 NFCA All-Region players, 1 ECAC Rookie of the Year, 1 ECAC Pitcher of the Year, 1 Skyline Rookie of the Year, 1 Skyline Pitcher of the Year, 3 ECAC First Team selections, 10 Skyline Conference First Team selections, and 15 Skyline Second Team selections.

Marc led the Long Island Hurricanes Fastpitch organization as president and head coach of showcase teams from 2009–2025, guiding players through the college showcase experience and instilling the work ethic college programs expect. He was also head coach at St. John the Baptist High School in 2017 and 2018, and at West Babylon High School from 2019–2020, helping guide the team to the semifinals in his first year.

He is currently head coach of a Long Island Rage Fastpitch showcase team.

Joseph Palumbo

Joseph Palumbo is the owner of One More Rep Athletics & Fitness in Farmingdale, New York. He is a certified elite fitness trainer with nearly a decade of training experience and more than 15 years of baseball and softball coaching experience across 14 states.

Joe challenges athletes to reach their fitness goals while strengthening the mindset and confidence needed to compete. He holds certifications in exercise recovery, strength and conditioning, nutrition, fitness coaching, and USA Boxing.

He brings a practical, results-oriented approach to every session, helping clients build confidence and achieve real results on their playing field.

Rob Aplin

Rob Aplin is a Long Island fastpitch softball coach dedicated to player development and college recruiting. Since taking over LI Heat in 2019, he has helped more than 50 athletes advance to NCAA Division I, II, and III softball programs.

His coaching emphasizes developing well-rounded student-athletes and finding college opportunities that fit each player’s athletic abilities and academic goals.

Kim Gwydir

Kim Gwydir is an experienced softball coach and instructor with more than 440 collegiate victories. She led Florida International University’s softball program for 10 years, guiding the team to national Top 25 rankings and an NCAA regional appearance.

A Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Kim earned conference Coach of the Year honors in 1998 and 2003. Her coaching experience includes developing players who went on to compete for the United States and Canadian national teams.

Bill Edwards

Bill Edwards served as Hofstra University’s head softball coach from 1990–2014, earning 928 career wins, 18 postseason conference championships, and 15 NCAA Tournament appearances.

His teams never had a losing season during his 25 years leading the program. He was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

Coach Ken Passante

Coach Ken Passante brings more than 32 years of experience coaching and instructing baseball and fastpitch softball, including 21 years at the collegiate level. He has made nine College World Series appearances, coached three All-Star teams, and helped seven players reach their countries’ Olympic programs, including two Olympic medalists.

A five-time regional Coach of the Year from 1999–2003, Ken has also supported numerous players through the college recruiting process. He served as lead hitting instructor at the University of Tennessee summer camp and was head coach of the Division I program at St. Peter’s College.

Ken currently coaches at Queens College, a Division II NCAA program, and serves as Director of Player Development for Long Island Express Fastpitch, where he also coaches the LI Express 14U team.

Ryan Henry

Ryan Henry is a professional softball player, coach, and athletics professional whose career has taken her from the BIG EAST to the international and professional stages.

A five-year member and three-year captain at Villanova University, Ryan helped lead the Wildcats to back-to-back BIG EAST Championships, including the program’s first conference title in 2021. A catcher and power hitter, she finished her collegiate career with 31 home runs, ranking among Villanova’s all-time leaders, and earned First Team All-BIG EAST and NFCA All-Region honors.

Following college, Ryan competed professionally and internationally with the New York Rise and Sofia Blues in Bulgaria before joining the Athletes Unlimited Softball League reserve pool. She recently signed with the Birmingham Iron as she continues her professional playing career.

Ryan has also worked as an assistant and hitting coach at LIU and now works in athletics at Marymount School of New York. Across every role, she is passionate about growing the game, creating opportunities for women in sports, and helping young female athletes develop confidence as leaders on and off the field.

Gabby Casalino

Gabby Casalino is a former collegiate softball player, travel fastpitch softball coach, current slowpitch baller, and passionate advocate for growing the game. Coming from a family deeply rooted in the Long Island softball community, she has spent most of her life on the field, transitioning from player to coach and now content creator.

Professionally, Gabby works in sports media as an Account Manager at Jomboy Media, helping bring major sports partnerships and campaigns to life. Through her personal platform, Baller GibGab, she combines her experience as a player, coach, and fan to spotlight softball, celebrate its athletes, and help bring greater visibility to the sport at every level.