This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
04/11/2016 12:00 AMThe North Branford softball team was anxious to get back on the field this spring and pick up right where it left off last season. A year ago, the Thunderbirds set the program record with 22 wins in a season, while winning the Shoreline Conference Tournament in the process. This year, they’re already 2-0 after routing Valley Regional 20-3 and then posting a 7-4 victory versus Haddam-Killingworth.
“I was very excited [to get going]. You get hungrier after you win the first title. You want to know what you can do to improve,” second-year Head Coach Nick DeLizio said. “That’s our biggest goal. There are certain team goals and individual goals that will help us achieve our main goal of winning the Shoreline Conference title and going on a deep run in the states.”
North Branford features a deep roster from top to bottom this year and so Coach DeLizio is putting a greater emphasis on team unity to ensure that everyone works together to accomplish their goals.
“Attitude and team unity is what I’m looking for. Chemistry and leadership are important. Anybody from freshmen to seniors can be leaders. That’s how teams are successful,” he said. “We have a good crop of freshman that have come in this year. Their willingness to learn on a day-to-day basis is awesome. Don’t be surprised if any of them crack the varsity roster as the season progresses. How they’ve improved and performed on the JV team has been a bonus and plus.”
Lindsay Golia is North Branford’s ace on the hill with fellow senior Sabrina LeMere as the team’s backstop. Sophomore Danielle Ramanda is lining up as North Branford’s first baseman with sophomore Olivia Hemstock at second, senior Haley Basil at shortstop, and junior Emily Muzyka at third. The outfield has featured junior Julia Haeckel, senior Meghan Golia, and sophomore Sydney Senerchia through the first two games. Freshman Brianna Raccio is seeing time as North Branford’s designated player.
“We have a ton of talent on the team from the older girls,” DeLizio said. “I like to have more competition within the team so everybody gets better. Everyone is pushing each other which makes the whole team improve.”
North Branford started the 2016 season at 2-0 after posting wins over Valley and H-K in the first week. Hosting Valley on April 6, the T-Birds won 20-3 in a game that was called after five innings due to the mercy rule. North Branford scored three runs in the first, 10 in the second, and seven in the third, while getting plenty of players into the lineup. LeMere recorded a team-high four RBI and Raccio and Meghan Golia each knocked home a pair. The T-Birds drew 12 walks to execute Coach DeLizio’s game-plan perfectly.
“My goal when we played Valley was to have a good at-bat. Don’t be afraid of walking, don’t swing out of the zone. Get on base and score. That’s the goal, whether it’s a walk, base hit, or reaching on an error. Getting on base is the goal,” DeLizio said. “There is no such thing as pressure. That’s just fear of failing. Don’t be afraid to fail. Go all out. We want the pressure and want to succeed. We have a lot of girls that want to be in that moment. Many are scared, but our girls want to be out there.”
Golia pitched all five innings and struck out 10 batters in the win over the Warriors. She followed that up with a complete game, 14-strikeout performance in North Branford’s 7-4 victory at another Shoreline Conference opponent in Haddam-Killingworth on April 8.
“Lindsay is our ace. She’s our go-to girl. She can handle the responsibilities of pitching every day,” DeLizio said. “There might be weeks where we have more than three games and we can reassess it then. Julia [Haeckel] has proven to be a pitcher as she was the starter at Sacred Heart last year. Sydney [Senerchia] is good, too. To have three varsity pitchers on one team is rare. We have an abundance of pitching, which is a good problem to have.”
Eight of the T-Birds’ nine starters recorded a hit against HK with Ramada getting the biggest knock with a three-run triple.
“HK is solid team. They’re well coached,” DeLizio said. “We were getting anxious at the plate, but once we settled down and made their pitcher work, she threw some balls right where our girls were looking. That got the troops going.”
After defeating HK, North Branford geared up for a difficult week that includes games against Shoreline powers Coginchaug and Morgan, as well as a solid SCC foe in Sheehan.
“We’re facing some tough teams, especially this week,” DeLizio said. “Its four games in five days, so the girls have to want to come hungry and be ready to play. Put the foot on the gas and not let up until I say something.”
2016 North Branford Thunderbirds Softball Schedule
April 6: North Branford 20, Valley Regional (5)
April 8: North Branford 7, Haddam-Killingworth 4
Monday, April 11: at Coginchaug at 4 p.m.
Tuesday, April 12: at Sheehan at 3:45 p.m.
Wednesday, April 13: vs. Morgan at 3:45 p.m.
Friday, April 15: vs. Cromwell at 3:45 p.m.
Monday, April 18: vs. East Haven at 3:45 p.m.
Wednesday, April 20: at Old Saybrook at 3:45 p.m.
Friday, April 22: vs. Portland at 3:45 p.m.
Monday, April 25: at Westbrook at 3:45 p.m.
Thursday, April 28: vs. Hale-Ray at 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 30: at East Hampton at noon
Monday, May 2: at Morgan at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 4: at Cromwell at 4 p.m.
Friday, May 6: vs. Coginchaug at 3:45 p.m.
Monday, May 9: vs. Haddam-Killingworth at 4 p.m.
Wednesday, May 11: at Valley at 4 p.m.
Thursday, May 12: vs. Sheehan at 3:45 p.m.
Tuesday, May 17: at East Haven at 3:45 p.m.
Thursday, May 19: vs. Old Lyme at 6 p.m.