Athlete of the Week: Softball Player Brianna Mattessich

Brianna Mattessich is a senior on the Fort Lee softball team and has been the starting third baseman for the Lady Bridgemen since her sophomore season.

Last year, her play earned her a spot on the BCSL Honorable Mention team, but Brianna’s play to this point in 2011 may be rewarded with even more distinctions this time around.

Mattessich is hitting .498 for Fort Lee and batting even higher in league play.

“There has to be some girl that you don’t want to have beat you [with a big hit],” said Fort Lee softball coach Bob Aughey. “For Fort Lee right now at this point in the season, I think the girl that you would put on the top of your scouting list would be Brianna Mattessich.” 

Brianna had the lone hit for the team, a double in a 5-1 loss to Lakeland on Monday. Then on Wednesday, Mattessich delivered with a 2 for 4 performance against Mahwah, including the game-winning, three-run triple in extra innings of an 8-5 win.

“The one she hit at Mahwah was a bomb,” said coach Aughey on her top of the eighth inning hit. “It’s not unlike any other week Bri has had … she had a terrific week.”

These types of numbers in the clutch are nothing new for Mattessich, who hit home runs in back-to-back at-bats in a game against Lyndhurst already this season.

But what many readers may not be aware of, is how much time Mattessich puts into her sport. The student athlete spends a lot of time striving to get better including three days a week in the gym lifting with head coach Bob Aughey.

“She began sometime in her junior year and this has really helped her in all aspects of her game,” said assistant coach Stacie Zafiris. “She truthfully is probably the most improved athlete Fort Lee has ever seen and I am not just saying this about softball but [also] about basketball too.”

On the basketball court, Mattessich led all Fort Lee players averaging 15 points per game as well as 7 assists. These marks helped the Lady Bridgemen earn a spot in the state tournament, have revived the girl’s basketball program and rank Mattessich as one of the top female players in Fort Lee history.

“It’s a great accomplishment, and I will always remember it,” Brianna said.

As one of the senior leaders on the softball team as well, she is also leading the way on another run to the state tournament as Fort Lee is 7-3-1 on the season.

With a duo of starting freshman in pitcher Amanda Maldonado and center fielder Caitlyn McKenna, Brianna has played a big role in easing the new players into the varsity level.

“She is a leader by example,” coach Aughey said. “The overall work ethic of the team that has been with us for a while rubs off on the freshman.”

As Brianna Mattessich is being honored for her individual play as Athlete of the Week, the senior always turns it back to her teammates.

“As long as the team wins,” she said.

The Lady Bridgemen return to play this week on Monday with a home game against Westwood and then a road game at Arts High School on Tuesday. Both contests are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m., when fans can witness Brianna Mattessich’s play firsthand.