The Mars Area High School girls softball team enters the 2026 season with a new leader in the dugout and a roster filled with young talent.
First-year head coach Jerry Testa takes over the program after serving as an assistant at Mars for the past three seasons. Testa brings decades of coaching experience to the role, having worked with youth, travel and tournament teams before arriving at Mars.
“I’ve coached softball all the way from youth leagues to travel leagues to tournament teams,” Testa said. “For the last three years I’ve been an assistant at Mars, and now I’ve taken over as head coach this season.”
While the coaching title may be new, Testa is already familiar with the program and the players. His focus now is guiding a young team through a competitive WPIAL section.
A Young Team With Talent
The Planets will rely heavily on underclassmen this season.
Mars enters the year with only one senior and one freshman, while the bulk of the roster is made up of four juniors and seven sophomores.
Despite the youth, Testa believes the team has significant potential.
“We’re a young team, but we’ve got some talent,” Testa said. “Our goal every year is to make the playoffs, but another big goal is to improve throughout the season — that the team at the end of the year is much better than the team at the beginning.”
“All Gas, No Brakes”
Testa has already begun establishing the team’s identity.
His message to the players is simple: stay aggressive and keep competing.
“One of the sayings we have with the girls is ‘all gas, no brakes,’” Testa said. “We want them to be aggressive in the field, at the plate and on the base paths. No matter what the score is, we’re still fighting and competing.”
Building a strong team culture is also a priority.
“The culture we’re trying to build is teamwork and camaraderie,” Testa said. “As the nickname of Mars is the Fighting Planets, we want to fight no matter what. At the end of the game, win or lose, our opponents are going to know they were in for a game.”
Players to Watch
Several players are expected to play key roles for Mars this season.
Sophia Soltis, the team’s lone senior, returns after hitting over .400 last season. The third baseman has already committed to continue her career at La Roche University.
As the team’s only senior and a captain, Soltis said she hopes to help guide the younger roster this season.
“I’m trying to get the younger girls to work hard, work together and have fun,” Soltis said.
The Planets also feature a talented junior class, including twin outfielders Callie and Tessa Simoni, who bring speed and strong defensive play to the lineup.
“Tessa is recovering from elbow surgery right now, but she should be back this season,” Testa said.
Behind the plate, sophomore catcher Alyssa Foltz is another player to watch.
“She’s very good defensively, has a strong arm and a good bat,” Testa said.
Mars will also be adjusting defensively with sophomore Ella Funk stepping into the starting shortstop role after last year’s starter moved on to play Division I softball at the University of Maine.
“It’ll be interesting to watch Ella’s development as she goes from JV last year to starting varsity shortstop,” Testa said.
Pitching Staff Taking Shape
The Planets expect to rely on a young but promising pitching staff.
Junior Edyn Giamatteo has emerged as a leader in the rotation, while fellow junior Paige Lauten is expected to contribute heavily as well.
Sophomores MaKenna White and Ashlee Maze gained valuable experience as freshmen last season and are expected to take a step forward.
“We look for a big leap forward from our pitching staff,” Testa said.
Emphasis on Defense
One of the biggest areas of focus this preseason has been tightening up the team’s defense.
“Last year we committed far too many errors,” Testa said. “The old adage is still true — defense wins championships.”
Practices have emphasized fundamentals such as fielding mechanics, proper throwing positions and situational awareness.
“We want to make sure we’re hitting the right cutoff, throwing to the right bases and charging the ball instead of letting the ball play us,” Testa said.
A Tough Section Ahead
Mars competes in WPIAL Class 5A Section 1, widely considered one of the toughest sections in the region.
Defending WPIAL champion Shaler headlines the group, while North Hills, Plum, Fox Chapel and New Castle also feature strong programs.
“I think it’s the toughest section in 5A,” Testa said. “Two or three of the Final Four teams last year came from our section.”
Still, Testa believes his team will be ready to compete.
“Our goal is to stay competitive every game,” he said.
Representing the Community
“I love high school sports because you’re not just playing for yourself or the school,” he said. “You’re playing for the community.”
He hopes Mars residents will come out to support the team this spring.
Local businesses are also helping support the Mars program this season.
Mars McDonald’s owner-operator Toni Hower, a former Division I softball player, is providing meals for the team before home games — a gesture Coach Jerry Testa says helps players stay focused and fueled. Hower said she understands the demands of the sport and enjoys supporting the next generation of athletes.
“Some of the girls eat lunch at 10 in the morning,” said Testa. “Having something before the game helps them so they’re not thinking about being hungry — they can just focus on playing.”
Testa said the program is grateful for the support from local sponsors who help strengthen the team and the broader Mars athletics community. For a young team building its identity this season, that kind of community support goes a long way.
“We’d love the community to come out and watch them grow throughout the year,” Testa said. “We have a lot of talented female athletes at Mars, and we’re proud to represent the school and the community.”
Season Outlook
With a young roster, a new head coach and a challenging section schedule, the Planets face a season that will test their resilience.
But Testa believes improvement and competitiveness will define the team’s success.
Soltis said the team’s mindset entering the season is simple. “We want to win games and have fun,” she said.
“Playoffs are always the goal,” said Testa. “But we’re young and in a tough section. As long as we stay competitive and continue to improve, that’s what you ask for as a coach.”
The Planets will open the season looking to build momentum while giving Mars fans plenty of reasons to follow the team throughout the spring.
