Former Latrobe catcher brings same passion to coaching ranks at Albert Gallatin

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, April 16, 2025 | 2:54 PM

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Former Latrobe softball standout Makayla Munchinski has been out of college at Cal (Pa.) for only a short time, but she already has a coaching job.

Munchinski is a first-year head coach at Albert Gallatin.

The former catcher who played an extra in the streaming series “A League of Their Own” in 2022 seemed destined for a leadership role.

Munchinski’s quick rise in coaching is a nod to her family members and to her late high school coach, Rick Kozusko, who died in the fall.

Her grandfather, Rich LeViere, and her mother, Dana, have coached her in the past. Dana Munchinski remains an assistant at Latrobe.

LeViere founded the Pittsburgh Spirit Fastpitch organization.

“My love of the game made me want to coach high school softball,” said Munchinski, who coached middle school softball at Upper St. Clair. “The talented coaches that I have played under … always inspired me as a player to show my passion and be myself on the field, and I want to be that person for my current and future players.”

Dana Munchinski is proud to see her daughter following in her and her grandfather’s footsteps.

“I love it,” Dana Munchinski said. “Makayla played with a lot of energy, and she coaches with a lot of energy. I think girls respond to and appreciate it more when other girls coach them.”

Albert Gallatin was 2-5 overall and 0-4 in Section 4-5A. The Colonials were in 4A last year.

“Moving up a classification has been challenging so far this year,” Munchinski said. “We are a young team made up of 14 resilient ballplayers who want to learn and get better each day.

“I am very proud of the effort and attitudes of each player on our team and the growth that we have made thus far.”

Two former Albert Gallatin standouts are assistant coaches to Munchinski in Maddie Flowers and Annalia Paoli, both former college players — Flowers at Pitt-Johnstown, Paoli at Ohio.

“We want to build the Albert Gallatin softball program back from the ground up,” Munchinski said. “We held our first youth camp this spring and look forward to getting into the youth leagues in our area to grow the softball community here in the community.”

Latrobe coach Bob Kovalcin said he hopes to get a future nonsection game lined up against Albert Gallatin. Both teams play in Class 5A.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Albert Gallatin, Latrobe