Softball preview: NFA primed for big season, plus players to watch
The high school softball gets underway this week with a number of local teams aiming for league and state championships this spring.
Norwich Free Academy returns a number of core letterwinners, including four of the top players in the ECC and the state in senior shortstop Melina Graziano, pitcher/infielder Hailey Smith, senior infielder Madison Waltke, and sophomore catcher Aubrey Martin.
The Wildcats, who went 15-5 during the regular season a year ago under the guidance of head coach Athena Jaskiewicz, reached the ECC championship game and Class LL quarterfinals in a stirring postseason. Jaskiewicz, now in her third season, has the Wildcats primed for another ECC and Class LL championship run this spring.
Killingly coach Lance Leduc also has high expectations. Killingly returns six starters, including all-conference players Izzy Robbins, Samantha Baker, and Grace Deslauriers, from a team that tied for second place in ECC Division II a year ago.
“Our first goal is to contend for the division title,” Leduc said. “Then we will shift our focus to the conference championship, and state tournament. We expect to be in the mix for all three.”
Killingly’s annual Morgan Ross Fundraiser game will take place on May 18. Ross was a Killingly little leaguer that tragically passed away on the field due to heart complications in 2018. Close to 1000 people attended last year’s fundraiser, which raises money towards a college scholarship and portable AEDs for local parks/ball fields.
Plainfield has been perennial ECC contenders under head coach Jim Langlois, who begins his 18th season with the Panthers.
“We look to be competitive in all of our games,” Langlois said. “We have quite a few players in new positions and are growing into their new roles. Our pitching is a talented mixture of experience and youth. We hope to qualify for both the state tournaments as well as the ECC’s.”
Griswold begins its third straight rebuilding season. The Wolverines have one senior on the roster. Longtime Wolverines coach Rick Arremony guided Griswold to ECC championships in 2018 and 2021.
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Both Norwich Tech and Ellis Tech will contend for the Connecticut Technical Conference Charter Oak Division title.
The Warriors are coming off a 17-3 dream season a year ago under co-head coaches Pam Pinch and Adam Lachendro and have a strong core of returning players that helped Norwich Tech reach its first CTC championship game. The Warriors fell to three-time champion O’Brien Tech in the CTC final last spring.
“We are looking to contend once again,” Pinch said. “We lost our all-state pitcher, Caity Flynn, to graduation but we have some promising young players working hard to take on the challenge of filling her shoes. We have a strong core of returning players who we will look to for leadership in our run to repeat as CTC East champs.”
After two seasons serving as an assistant coach, Ellis Tech athletic director Brooke DiFormato begins her first season as the Golden Eagles head coach.
Ellis Tech, which went 14-6 during the regular season last spring, will be led by senior first baseman Kylie Damble, sophomore pitcher Rose Lopez, and junior third baseman Tierra Collette.
“Our goal is to win our CTC Charter Oak Division and advance to the CTC finals for the first time ever,” DiFormato said. “If there was ever a group I think that can accomplish this, it's this one. Kylie is our only senior this year, so the outlook for the future is bright. I'm very excited for this season and look forward to seeing what the team can accomplish.”
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32 Softball Players to Watch
Samantha Baker, Sophomore, P (Killingly), Nyomi Barboza, Sophomore, OF/P (Norwich Tech), Evelyn Brimmer, Junior, OF (Norwich Tech), Gillian Brix, Sophomore, CF (Plainfield), Tierra Collette, Junior, 3B (Ellis Tech), Morgan Cook, Senior, C (Norwich Tech), Kylie Damble, Senior, 1B, (Ellis Tech), Sadie Daniewicz, Junior, INF (Norwich Free Academy), Grace Deslauriers, Junior, P/OF (Killingly), Sadie Dodge, Junior, INF (Plainfield), Jayden Durand, Sophomore, C (Killingly), Serenity Evans, Senior, 1B (Plainfield), Brionna Frappier, Junior, SS (Plainfield), Laurissa Gedney, Sophomore, C (Plainfield), Melina Graziano, Senior, SS (Norwich Free Academy), Hailey Haggett, Freshman, C (Ellis Tech), Autumn Hanks, Junior, IF/OF (Norwich Tech), Addison King, Junior, 2B (Killingly), Rose Lopez, Sophomore, P (Ellis Tech), Sierra Madden, Junior, P/OF (Plainfield), Khaiyanna Maldonado, Junior, INF (Norwich Tech), Abby Matheson, Junior, P (Griswold), Aubrey Martin, Sophomore, C (Norwich Free Academy), Summer McLean, Junior, OF (Griswold), Camryn Murray, Freshman, IF/OF (Ellis Tech), Kierra Neilson, Junior, INF (Griswold), Izabella (Izzy) Robbins, Senior, SS (Killingly), Hailey Smith, Senior, P (Norwich Free Academy), Melainey Tackling, Senior, OF (Norwich Free Academy), Michaella Tetrault, Senior, INF (Plainfield), Madison Waltke, Senior, INF/3B (Norwich Free Academy), Danielle Veillette, Sophomore, INF/P (Killingly).
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Norwich Free Academy primed for big softball season, players to watch
