This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
04/09/2017 12:00 AMThe North Branford softball team won its second straight Shoreline Conference title last year, but the Thunderbirds lost a lot of firepower from that squad, including Sabrine LeMere and Lindsay Golia, who were the league’s Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively. As a result, Head Coach Nick DeLizio wasn’t sure exactly what to expect from his club this spring. However, the T-Birds’ 3-0 start has him believing that they’ll once again be right in the thick of things.
“What I stressed to the team this year was to build off of what we did and how the seniors led last year. We need to create our own identity,” said DeLizio, whose team set the program record for wins in a season by going 24-2 last year. “We have 14 underclassmen out of the 21 players on our team. Our youth is strong and raw, but we’re working with them. We talk about being coachable, do some skill building, and refining out skills on the field, on the base paths, and in the box. We have more options on the bench and I’ve already gotten 16 girls into a game. Last year, we didn’t have the same depth, so this is a lot of fun. Everyone has a positive attitude and they want to win and build off of last year. I love it.”
Despite spending most of the preseason indoors due to the suspect weather, the Thunderbirds are on fire to start their season, having scored 36 runs, while allowing none. North Branford prevailed at Old Saybrook 12-0 on April 3 and then beat Westbrook 23-0 at home on April 7, with both games called after five innings due to the mercy rule. On April 8, the T-Birds squeaked out a 1-0, eight-inning win at non-conference opponent Sheehan.
“The best thing I wanted to bring from last year was our approach. We don’t want to step outside ourselves. We still go up with a plan of action at the plate because I stress that we don’t want to swing at garbage pitches. We want to hit pitches we know that we can barrel up,” DeLizio said. “With that being said, I tell the girls that I don’t care who we’re playing; we have to play full throttle and not to let up until I say so. You want to go in, do your job, and, when the time comes, I will tell them to let up. That’s when the sportsmanship takes over.”
North Branford is featuring a great deal of balance in its starting lineup thus far this spring. Through the first three games, six people on the team are sporting a batting average of .333 or better.
“The strong suit of our lineup would definitely be the top four or five girls, with Emily Muzyka being the anchor,” DeLizio said. “With the bottom few, we’re playing to our strength. We’ve done more small ball this year because we have good contact hitters and a lot of speed. We’re going to cater to the team we have and utilize our speed to win some games.”
North Branford started its season with a 12-0 road victory over Old Saybrook. Muzyka, who captains the team with fellow junior Olivia Hemstock, had three hits, including a home run, with six RBI in the victory. Fellow senior Julia Haeckel notched three hits withan RBI, while juniors Danielle Ramada and Sydney Senerchia had two hits each. Katy Pederson also collected two hits and fellow freshman Ava Galdenzi scored three times as a pinch runner. Haeckel shined on the mound by tossing a three-hitter with four strikeouts.
North Branford’s next game saw the T-Birds defeat Westbrook 23-0. Southpaw Senerchia fired a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts for the T-Birds, who saw 10 players record at least one hit. Muzyka led the way with four RBI, plus sophomore Sam DeAngelo and Pederson drove in three apiece.
Closing the week, North Branford earned a 1-0, revenge victory in eight innings against Sheehan, which defeated the T-Birds last season. Haeckel, a right-hander, pitched a gem by allowing just one hit over eight innings while fanning 12 for her second shutout in as many starts. She even helped North Branford plate the game’s lone run after getting on base with a triple in the eighth.
“That was definitely a redemption game for us as they gave us our only regular season loss last year. The girls were fired up and anxious to play them,” DeLizio said. “The biggest thing was coming off Westbrook, which was not as competitive a game, and then the next day playing a SCC team that has six returning starters. They buckled down, were mentally tough, had no errors, and Julia pitched a heck of a game. Sam saved the game catching two base-stealers and then Julia led off the eighth with a triple. Muzyka hit a bloop single to left and Ava scored as the pinch runner for Julia.”
The Sheehan win was a big one for a young North Branford squad. Coach DeLizio concluded by stating how impressed he’s been with his two pitchers early on in the season.
“Last year, it was Lindsay and then Julia got some starts as Sydney would get spots. The thing with Julia and Sydney is I can go with either of them and I wouldn’t second guess myself,” he said. “They’re just as effective and have great offspeed stuff.”