"How can a game have such effect on an individual’s soul?  The way I see it, how can it not.  You don’t choose the game, it chooses you and when it does life and the game forever will be connected.

I have spent a good piece of my life gripping a softball and I have come to realize that it’s the other way around.  I have incredible passion, respect and love for the girls that I have coached over the years. I want my athletes to view me as a role model and someone who unconditionally supports them.  

Life is about choices and you can choose to excel or choose not to. You can choose to embrace your dreams and go after them or let them slip away. The control that you have over your choices, your focus and your destiny is real and powerful. It is the key to unlocking the door to your true potential."

NEVER STOP DREAMING, LIFE IS A JOURNEY. STAY INSPIRED!


-Coach Liz Pennino

DEREK STANYA

GENERAL MANAGER | LI SURGE SHOWCSE TEAMS DIRECTOR | COACH | TRAINER

​

Derek Stanya has served as a manager and coach in travel softball for the last 13 vears - including the last seven in
​the Long Island Surge organization.

Stanva has also been a member of the Farmingdale State College softball coaching staff since the 2019-20 academic year. A longtime veteran in the travel softball ranks and a former collegiate student-athlete, his primary focuses with the Rams include recruiting and the team's defense.

​Stanya, who coached his daughter Allie at FSC during her illustrious Skyline Conference Player of the Year and All-Region career in the pitcher's circle. After a three-time All-County baseball career at Hewlett High School, Stanya played as a first baseman and pitcher collegiately at Division I institution Mercy College (now University). He is the proud father of Allie, now a dental hygienist, and his son Richard - a three-year member of the football team at Western Connecticut State University who now works in the local steamfitters union.

ELIZABETH PENNINO

OWNER | COACH | TRAINER

​

Pennino brings a wealth of high-level playing and coaching experience. She is the founder and President of LI Surge Fastpitch, a girls softball organization with a strong footprint in the Long Island community.

Prior to founding LI Surge in 2012, Pennino was an integral part of the Bay Shore High School softball program in 2010. She was an assistant for the varsity team that reached the New York State Championship.

Pennino is the head softball coach at Farmingdale State College. She had been an assistant coach with the program since 2012, and is the Department of Athletics' Travel Coordinator and an adiunct professor in the Sport Management department at the College. A three-time Skyline Conference Coach of the Year (2021, 2024, 2025), Pennino has a career record of
133-50 (.727) and has led the Rams to Skvline Conference titles and NCAA Division III Championship appearances in 2021, 2022 and 2025.

Pennino led FSC to a historic 2022 season as she set single-season records with the highest winning percentage (.853), least amount of losses (29-5), highest team batting average (.374) and highest on-base percentage (.445). Farmingdale State also had the third-most shutouts in program history with 14 this season as they earned the Skyline Conference title and their spot in the NCAA's.

In 2008, Pennino graduated with her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Manhattan College. She was on scholarship for the Division I softball program and a four-year starting pitcher and letter winner.

In high school, Pennino earned an array of accolades, including All-Leaque and was three times named All-Division. She was also tabbed team captain, Team MVP, All-State, All-County and Suffolk County Pitcher of the Year runner-up during her senior season.

​

Coach's Bio

LI Surge Mission

Knowing the life long impact youth sports has on children, it is our goal to not only enhance the skill level of our athletes but more importantly enhance their life skills. Our greatest contribution is in teaching our athletes the life long values of competition:

Commitment, Goal Setting, Perseverance, Discipline, Integrity and Sacrifice.

These are the core values of The Long Island Surge and they are also the foundations for a healthy adolescence and a successful team.

Our core values will significantly benefit our players both on and off the field by giving them the tools they need to become confident, responsible, motivated and successful adolescents.