Trainers

Meet Our Trainers

Jamie Apicella - Director of Softball Operations

Jamie brings over 20 years of collegiate coaching experience, transforming the LIU Post program into a nationally-competitive team and becoming one of the most accomplished coaches in the region. Jamie has ranked in the top-20 among active Division II coaches in total victories (18th) and winning percentage (17th), and is LIU's all-time winningest coach. The Pioneers have won nine East Coast Conference titles and have qualified for the NCAA Championships 19 times under his leadership.

Jamie led the Pioneers to capture the East Region title and advance to the College World Series 5 times in his career. He has mentored 20 All-Americans and 124 all-conference selections, including 33 Players of the Year and one National Player of the Year.

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    With success comes recognition, and Jamie has received many honors for his coaching accomplishments. He and his coaching staff have been honored as NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year 7 times. He was also voted Coach of the Year 5 times in his career.


    As a collegiate athlete, Jamie was a three-year standout baseball player for LIU Post, compiling a batting average of over .350 with 21 home runs and 126 runs batted in for his career. His 49 RBIs in 1994 ranks as the fifth-best single-season total in school history, while his 113 total bases rank fourth. After his junior season, he was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1994. Jamie was inducted into the LIU Post Baseball Hall of Fame in February 2000, and was inducted into the Smithtown Hall of Fame in 2008.

Leah Mele - Coach

Leah was a standout SS/2B for the LIU Post Softball team between the years of 2016 – 2019. She was a two-time selection to the ECC All Conference Teams. She was a career .307 hitter with an outstanding fielding percentage of .964. Listed below are Leah’s career highlights and accolades. We are excited to have Leah a part of Team Beast Softball. She will work side-by-side with Jamie Apicella developing our infielders and assisting with our hitting philosophy throughout the organization.

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     2019:

    • Second Team All-ECC
    • Started all 62 appearances
    • Tallied 11 multi-hit games
    • Ranked 27th in Division II, striking out just once every 31.2 at-bats
    • Struck out just five times during 156 at-bats
    • Compiled a .301 average with 47 hits, six doubles, and four home runs
    • Scored 36 runs and drove in 21 runs
    • Hit her first career home run against Adelphi (Mar. 14)
    • Hit a walk-off home run against Wilmington (Mar. 24)
    • Drove in four runs with a grand slam against Dominican (Mar. 28)
    • Scored three runs during game two against Queens (Apr. 28)
    • Recorded one hit against Young Harris in the NCAA National Championship

    2018:


    Selected to the All-ECC first-team … Started all 57 games, hitting .333 with 58 hits and 27 runs batted in … recorded a 13-game hitting streak … tallied 14 multi-hit games, including a four-hit outing against American International … drove in three runs against Georgian Court and American International … scored a pair of runs to help lead the Pioneers past Bridgeport and NYIT.


    2017: 


    Started in 15 contests before missing the remainder of the season due to injury … hit .243 with nine hits and two doubles … ripped three hits and drove in two runs in a win against Saint Anselm … scored a pair of runs against Minnesota Duluth … doubled and drove in a run against Mercy.


    2016:


    Started all 53 games for the Pioneers at shortstop … batted .301 on the season in a team-high 183 at-bats … was second on the team in hits (53) and assists (133) …third on the team in on-base percentage (.365) … fourth in doubles (8) and total bases (63) … went a perfect 2-for-2 with a double and two runs scored in a 10-2 win over Felician (Mar. 9) … hit 2-for-4 with a double, RBI, and run scored in a 4-0 victory against NYIT (Apr. 17) … had an impressive 3-for-4, two-RBI performance against NYIT (Apr. 20).


    Prior to LIU Post: Played five seasons of varsity softball at Longwood High School ... four-time All-County selection ... two-time All-Long Island honoree (2013 & 2015) .. named Player of the Year, All-Region and All-State as a sophomore ... garnered Rookie of the Year and All-League honors in eighth grade ... boasted a .458 batting average, .556 on-base percentage, .644 slugging percentage and .987 fielding percentage in her senior season ... struck out in only one plate appearance from 2013-15.


Daniella roselli - Coach

Daniella began her collegiate career at Adelphi University where she appeared in 37 games, making 31 starts. During her time with the Panthers, she was named to the Northeast Ten All-Conference First Team and All-Rookie Team in 2021. Roselli finished her softball career at Queens College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Queens College. She was a four-year member of the varsity softball team at Division Avenue High School and still holds the school record for home runs (31). She was named to the Class A Second Team All-State Selection in her senior season and All-County selection each year. Roselli was named to the Newsday Top 100 Long Island softball players list three times. During her junior year, she led Long Island in home runs (12).

JOHN FORNIERO-COACH

John was a pitcher at Division 1 Northeastern University (NU) in Boston, MA. In 1994, John posted a 7-1 record with a 2.20 ERA (28th in country), helping lead his team to a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) championship and a birth to the NCAA Regionals at the University of Tennessee. John racked up multiple ECAC and NAC pitcher of the week awards and was twice voted to the New England All Star team. As a senior captain in 1996, John became the only pitcher in NU history to throw 2 no hitters, one against nationally ranked Florida Atlantic University and one against Hofstra. John held his opponents to a .175 batting average hurling 9 complete games in 10 starts. John was named the 1996 NU Student Athlete of the Year. John was selected 2 consecutive summers to play for Hyannis of the Cape Cod league, the most competitive and prestigious college summer league in the country. John finished his career with a 3.36 ERA over 200+ innings. John is 13th in NU history for wins in a season (7), 4th in career complete games (19), 2nd in career shutouts (4) and 11th in fewest hits per nine innings in a season (5.74). John was an Academic All-American, graduating from NU Summa Cum Laude with an Accounting/Business Administration degree.

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    John dominated at Smithtown East High School, compiling a career 20-4 record with a 1.50 ERA.  In 1990, alongside teammate Jamie Apicella, John was a member of the only team in Smithtown High School history to win a NY State Championship.  That year, as a sophomore, John won 7 games which included not only a no-hitter in the county semifinals, but he was the winning pitcher in the State Championship game.  As a senior, John was the Section XI leader with a 7-0 record and a 0.86 ERA.  In 2011, John was inducted into the Smithtown Athletic Hall of Fame. John was also a 3-year varsity and All-League basketball player.


    After college, John coached travel baseball, ran clinics and did private lessons.  John helped restart and was travel coordinator for the Kings Park Youth Lady Knights travel softball program which now fields competitive teams from 8u-18u.  John was also head coach of the 18u team.  


    In the fall of 2020, John was the head coach of Team Beast 16u which was the first Team Beast Softball squad fielded at any level.  He later coached the 18u Gold showcase team and is now coach of the 23u College team.


    John is currently a senior executive cardiovascular hospital sales specialist at AstraZeneca and has been in the industry for 24 years.

Our trainers are ready to help you elevate your game. Contact us at 631-499-2673 to get started.

Meet Our Trainers

Jamie Apicella - DIrector of Softball Operations and player development

Jamie brings over 20 years of collegiate coaching experience, transforming the LIU Post program into a nationally-competitive team and becoming one of the most accomplished coaches in the region. Jamie has ranked in the top-20 among active Division II coaches in total victories (18th) and winning percentage (17th), and is LIU's all-time winningest coach. The Pioneers have won nine East Coast Conference titles and have qualified for the NCAA Championships 19 times under his leadership.

Jamie led the Pioneers to capture the East Region title and advance to the College World Series 5 times in his career. He has mentored 20 All-Americans and 124 all-conference selections, including 33 Players of the Year and one National Player of the Year.

  • Show more

    With success comes recognition, and Jamie has received many honors for his coaching accomplishments. He and his coaching staff have been honored as NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year 7 times. He was also voted Coach of the Year 5 times in his career.


    As a collegiate athlete, Jamie was a three-year standout baseball player for LIU Post, compiling a batting average of over .350 with 21 home runs and 126 runs batted in for his career. His 49 RBIs in 1994 ranks as the fifth-best single-season total in school history, while his 113 total bases rank fourth. After his junior season, he was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1994. Jamie was inducted into the LIU Post Baseball Hall of Fame in February 2000, and was inducted into the Smithtown Hall of Fame in 2008.

Leah Mele - Coach

Leah was a standout SS/2B for the LIU Post Softball team between the years of 2016 – 2019. She was a two-time selection to the ECC All Conference Teams. She was a career .307 hitter with an outstanding fielding percentage of .964. Listed below are Leah’s career highlights and accolades. We are excited to have Leah a part of Team Beast Softball. She will work side-by-side with Jamie Apicella developing our infielders and assisting with our hitting philosophy throughout the organization.

  • Show more

     2019:

    • Second Team All-ECC
    • Started all 62 appearances
    • Tallied 11 multi-hit games
    • Ranked 27th in Division II, striking out just once every 31.2 at-bats
    • Struck out just five times during 156 at-bats
    • Compiled a .301 average with 47 hits, six doubles, and four home runs
    • Scored 36 runs and drove in 21 runs
    • Hit her first career home run against Adelphi (Mar. 14)
    • Hit a walk-off home run against Wilmington (Mar. 24)
    • Drove in four runs with a grand slam against Dominican (Mar. 28)
    • Scored three runs during game two against Queens (Apr. 28)
    • Recorded one hit against Young Harris in the NCAA National Championship

    2018:


    Selected to the All-ECC first-team … Started all 57 games, hitting .333 with 58 hits and 27 runs batted in … recorded a 13-game hitting streak … tallied 14 multi-hit games, including a four-hit outing against American International … drove in three runs against Georgian Court and American International … scored a pair of runs to help lead the Pioneers past Bridgeport and NYIT.


    2017: 


    Started in 15 contests before missing the remainder of the season due to injury … hit .243 with nine hits and two doubles … ripped three hits and drove in two runs in a win against Saint Anselm … scored a pair of runs against Minnesota Duluth … doubled and drove in a run against Mercy.


    2016:


    Started all 53 games for the Pioneers at shortstop … batted .301 on the season in a team-high 183 at-bats … was second on the team in hits (53) and assists (133) …third on the team in on-base percentage (.365) … fourth in doubles (8) and total bases (63) … went a perfect 2-for-2 with a double and two runs scored in a 10-2 win over Felician (Mar. 9) … hit 2-for-4 with a double, RBI, and run scored in a 4-0 victory against NYIT (Apr. 17) … had an impressive 3-for-4, two-RBI performance against NYIT (Apr. 20).


    Prior to LIU Post: Played five seasons of varsity softball at Longwood High School ... four-time All-County selection ... two-time All-Long Island honoree (2013 & 2015) .. named Player of the Year, All-Region and All-State as a sophomore ... garnered Rookie of the Year and All-League honors in eighth grade ... boasted a .458 batting average, .556 on-base percentage, .644 slugging percentage and .987 fielding percentage in her senior season ... struck out in only one plate appearance from 2013-15.


Daniella roselli - Coach

Daniella began her collegiate career at Adelphi University where she appeared in 37 games, making 31 starts. During her time with the Panthers, she was named to the Northeast Ten All-Conference First Team and All-Rookie Team in 2021. Roselli finished her softball career at Queens College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Queens College. She was a four-year member of the varsity softball team at Division Avenue High School and still holds the school record for home runs (31). She was named to the Class A Second Team All-State Selection in her senior season and All-County selection each year. Roselli was named to the Newsday Top 100 Long Island softball players list three times. During her junior year, she led Long Island in home runs (12).

    JOHN FORNEiRO - COACH

    John was a pitcher at Division 1 Northeastern University (NU) in Boston, MA. In 1994, John posted a 7-1 record with a 2.20 ERA (28th in country), helping lead his team to a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) championship and a birth to the NCAA Regionals at the University of Tennessee. John racked up multiple ECAC and NAC pitcher of the week awards and was twice voted to the New England All Star team. As a senior captain in 1996, John became the only pitcher in NU history to throw 2 no hitters, one against nationally ranked Florida Atlantic University and one against Hofstra. John held his opponents to a .175 batting average hurling 9 complete games in 10 starts. John was named the 1996 NU Student Athlete of the Year. John was selected 2 consecutive summers to play for Hyannis of the Cape Cod league, the most competitive and prestigious college summer league in the country. John finished his career with a 3.36 ERA over 200+ innings. John is 13th in NU history for wins in a season (7), 4th in career complete games (19), 2nd in career shutouts (4) and 11th in fewest hits per nine innings in a season (5.74). John was an Academic All-American, graduating from NU Summa Cum Laude with an Accounting/Business Administration degree.

    • Show more

      John dominated at Smithtown East High School, compiling a career 20-4 record with a 1.50 ERA.  In 1990, alongside teammate Jamie Apicella, John was a member of the only team in Smithtown High School history to win a NY State Championship.  That year, as a sophomore, John won 7 games which included not only a no-hitter in the county semifinals, but he was the winning pitcher in the State Championship game.  As a senior, John was the Section XI leader with a 7-0 record and a 0.86 ERA.  In 2011, John was inducted into the Smithtown Athletic Hall of Fame. John was also a 3-year varsity and All-League basketball player.


      After college, John coached travel baseball, ran clinics and did private lessons.  John helped restart and was travel coordinator for the Kings Park Youth Lady Knights travel softball program which now fields competitive teams from 8u-18u.  John was also head coach of the 18u team.  


      In the fall of 2020, John was the head coach of Team Beast 16u which was the first Team Beast Softball squad fielded at any level.  He later coached the 18u Gold showcase team and is now coach of the 23u College team.


      John is currently a senior executive cardiovascular hospital sales specialist at AstraZeneca and has been in the industry for 24 years.

    Our trainers are ready to help you elevate your game. Contact us at 631-499-2673 to get started.

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