Michaela Ponticello is in her first season as an assistant coach for the Wesleyan softball program in 2027.
A decorated college softball player, first for Herkimer College and later for Springfield College, Ponticello was the Region III Most Valuable Player for Herkimer in 2022 and was a Second Team All-Conference performer in her time at Springfield. Ponticello made 41 appearances for Herkimer in 2022, hitting .414 with a .564 on-base percentage as she totaled 46 hits in 111 at-bats with 55 runs scored, 34 walks, nine doubles, four triples, nine home runs, 39 RBI, and 14 stolen bases, on her way to earning Region III MVP honors.
In three years at Springfield, Ponticello hit .331 across 112 games (107 starts) with 107 hits in 323 at-bats while she added 62 runs scored, 10 doubles, six triples, four homers, 62 RBI, and 40 walks with 11 stolen bases. She hit over .350 in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons while the 2025 Springfield team qualified for the NCAA Div. III Tournament.
Ponticello joins the Cardinals having most-recently served as a coach for Turn 2 Gold Glovers, a travel softball organization based out of Johnstown, New York, for the 2025-26 season. With the Gold Glovers, Ponticello planned and structured practices focused on skill development, game strategy, and player confidence across all positions. Player development, both athletically and mentally, was a key emphasis for Ponticello while she also analyzed player performance to provide individualized feedback.
Following the 2025-26 season with the Gold Glovers, Ponticello was a summer camp coach at IMG Academy in Florida for the 2026 season. She worked with full-time IMG staff members to implement practice plays for athletes ages 9-17. Michaela taught Austin Wasserman’s high-level throwing program to all athletes and assisted the IMG Academy’s pitching coach in lessons.
Ponticello earned an Associate of Science degree in sport management from Herkimer College out of New York in May 2022 and later earned a Bachelor of Science in sport management from Springfield College in May 2024.
