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04/17/2016 12:00 AMThe East Haven softball team is off to one of its hottest starts in recent memory by cruising through its early season schedule to the tune of a 6-0 record. Along the way, the Yellowjackets have defeated ranked opponents Stamford and Mercy and also won a pair of SCC Oronoque Division games.
“The girls worked hard all winter. They were lifting and then their conditioning started on January 4. We had at least 18 girls there every night,” said Head Coach Ed Crisafi, whose club is aiming to defend its Class L state title. “They weren’t going to rest on laurels. I told the group of seniors that they don’t want to be known as champs when they’re juniors and not seniors. It’s a little mantra for them.”
Having lost three starters from a year ago in Giovanna Russo at second base, Jena Villecco at third base, and Casey Smith at designated hitter, Coach Crisafi felt it was essential to schedule difficult games early to see how his team would respond.
“I scheduled some tough scrimmages against West Haven, St. Joseph’s, Southington, and Keene, who is the No. 4 team in New Hampshire. We had some tough ones to prepare them,” Crisafi said. “The first three games, I knew that would tell how we’d be. To get three wins there propelled us and gave us more confidence.”
The Yellowjackets continued to ride that wave of confidence en route to three more wins last week. On April 11, East Haven defeated Career 15-2. The Yellowjackets put the game away early by scoring six runs in the second inning and another three in the third. Five different players collected a pair of hits in the win. Sophomore Julia SanGiovanni drove home a team-high four runs and senior Allison Luzzi drove in three. Both players homered in the victory, as well. On the mound, sophomore Selena Mauro got the call and allowed two runs in a complete game effort. She held Career to four hits and struck out eight batters.
On April 13, Crisafi earned career win No. 250 as East Haven’s skipper as the Yellowjackets defeated another division opponent in Cross by a 19-0 final in five innings. On the mound, freshman Taylor Myers threw a no-hitter in her first outing of the season. Myers struck out 10 batters through five innings and walked a pair. At the dish, Mauro led the charge with three hits and two RBI, while Luzzi and senior Ali Esposito also drove home a pair of runs. The hitters made the opposing pitchers work by pounding out 14 hits and drawing 13 walks. The 250-win milestone was nice for Crisafi as it allowed for him to look back at how he’s built East Haven’s program.
“It’s gratifying knowing where the program is, so that makes that 250 nice,” he said. “I never throughout I’d get there. It’s an average of 12 wins per year. We struggled early, but the recent success is what makes it gratifying.”
East Haven remained undefeated and moved to 6-0 with a 10-5 victory over Law on April 15. Laura Anderson returned to the mound, allowing nine hits and five runs (four earned) in a five-strikeout performance. Senior Kara Hanson hasn’t pitched yet due to an apparent shoulder injury, but Anderson has taken control of the mound and won her first four starts, even though she didn’t have her best stuff against Law.
“Her junk was not working, but she relied on her grittiness,” Crisafi said. “This team is so resilient. Nothing fazes them. When teams come back on them or do happen to take the lead, we suck it up and hit the ball.”
Offensively, Luzzi, Anderson, SanGiovanni, Hanson, and junior Fallon Spears all collected three hits. Anderson scored three runs and knocked home three runs, while Hanson and Spears both drove home a pair. The addition of Spears and fellow junior Danielle Stefania into the lineup in replacement of Villecco and Russo, respectively, has helped East Haven remain one of the state’s top teams thus far this spring.
“Fallon has fulfilled that spot [third base] as she’s there, hitting .350, fitting in nicely,” Crisafi said. “Danielle Stefania has filled in nicely [at second base] with no errors committed yet. We’re better than last year as we start five seniors. The confidence is there because they know what it takes.”
As Crisafi has had time to dissect the SCC this season, he believes it’s down year for the league. East Haven and North Haven both sit atop the Oronoque at 2-0, but outside of the usual suspects, Crisafi isn’t sure what to expect.
“It’s us, Amity, Cheshire, Mercy, and Hand. Everybody else after that is at par,” he said. “North Haven is very young. They can beat us, but they’re young. It’s good in away because Myers and Selena [Mauro] will get a chance to pitch more. They’ll get some experience.”
From the Sidelines
Through the team’s six games, East Haven’s batters have only struck out 19 times this season.
The Yellowjackets are hitting .404 as a squad, while holding the opposition to an average of .208.
Four regular starters are hitting .400 or better for East Haven in Ali Esposito (.571), Allison Luzzi (.571), Jessica Stettinger (.467), and Kara Hanson (.444).
East Haven has outscored its opponents 59-11.