Scots hire assistant softball coach

BATESVILLE — Lyon College softball head coach Elliott Sampley announced the hiring of Jessica Mattia as his new assistant coach. Mattia will serve as the pitching coach on the Scots’ staff. Mattia recently served as an assistant softball coach at Delaware State University for three seasons.

During her tenure at Delaware State, Mattia worked primarily with the pitching staff. She designed and executed pitching plans and practices for the pitchers and created charts to record statistics during games. She helped lead the Hornets to two consecutive MEAC Northern Division Championships. Mattia also was responsible for setting up and executing fundraisers, teambuilding exercises, communityservice events and organizing itineraries for games.

“We are excited to have Jessica join our staff,” Sampley said. “She has had a great deal of success as a pitcher in college as well as coaching at a high level. She is a hard worker and has already hit the ground running. Our players have welcomed her and she fits in our program very well.

“The young ladies in this area who desire to pitch will have an opportunity to learn from her expertise as well. She is the only true pitching coach in this area and will begin running pitching camps and lessons this fall. We are definitely fortunate to have her in our program and in our city.”

In 2014, Mattia returned to her alma mater, Virginia State University, as a volunteer assistant on the softball coaching staff. As a player at Virginia State, Mattia was a three-time All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association co-Pitcher of the Year honoree. During her senior season, Mattia served as a team captain for VSU and was named as the Female Athlete of the Year for both the CIAA and Virginia State.

During the offseason since 2010, Mattia has been involved as a softball instructor for 5 Star Athletics in College Park, Md. At 5 Star Athletics, Mattia has instructed youth on the fundamentals of softball through camps and clinics. She has also provided pitching lessons and clinics for groups of young pitchers.

The Scots finished 23-26 last season and earned a berth in the American Midwest Conference Tournament.