Printer Friendly Version - Yellowjackets’ Softball Ready for a Big Season This Spring

Senior captain Jessica Stettinger is looking to supply even more power for the East Haven softball team this spring. A season ago, she crushed seven home runs for the Yellowjackets, who are facing Foran in their season opener and will play Amity for their home opener. Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Courier

As the spring season gets underway, East Haven softball Head Coach Ed Crisafi fee;ls eager to see his team take the field this year. With the Yellowjackets losing just one player to graduation from a team that went 13-9, Crisafi knows that East Haven is primed for a big season in 2018.

“We have eight starters back with a talented group of freshmen who has come in. Really, we’re two deep at every position and three deep on the pitcher’s mound,” Coach Crisafi said. “Are we expecting big things? Yes. It’s easy to have things on paper, but we have to go out there and do it.”

While the Easties have collected their fair share of victories in recent years, they came up one spot short of winning a division title last year by placing second in the SCC Quinnipiac Division. East Haven has also lost in the opening round of the SCC and Class L State tournaments in each of the last two seasons, and Coach Crisafi said he’s ready for that to change.

“Our goal is not just to get eight wins. Our goal is a state championship. The girls are mad about not only being second, but getting knocked out of our postseason tournaments,” said Crisafi, whose squad won the Class L state title in 2015. “The last two years have left a sour taste in our mouths. We dropped down to Class M this year, which is where we went to the state semis and state final [in 2014].”

Coach Crisafi noted that this year’s roster will feature more depth than the Yellowjackets had last season. He hopes the increased numbers will help his players feel more rested down the stretch.

“We have 30 girls on the team this year between varsity and JV. Last year, we only had 21, so we didn’t have any subs. Our kids knew no matter if they were slumping or not playing well defensively, they couldn’t be replaced,” he said. “Now, we can do a lot more this year. We’ll pinch run, pinch hit, and substitute for defense. This big roster will give us options for new things.”

Of the team’s eight returning starters, five will serve as senior captains for East Haven this spring, including the formidable duo of shortstop Julia SanGiovanni and catcher Jessica Stettinger. Both players batted more than .420 a season ago, and they are each on the cusp of 100 career hits. With the power of SanGiovanni and Stettinger, Coach Crisafi has elected to go away from too many small-ball tactics during the past few seasons, and he expects more of the same this year. The entire Yellowjackets’ lineup is focused on squaring up the ball and driving it.

“Our hitting has been strong. With everybody coming back, we’ve worked a lot on hitting...We’ve been relying on our power, and we expect to be hitting hard again,” said Crisafi. “The young kids coming in—hitting is their strong point, too.”

East Haven’s other senior captains this year are pitcher and left fielder Selena Mauro, first baseman Brianna Carrano, and designated hitter Mariah DeCarlo. The Yellowjackets’ other projected starters are junior Jenna Esposito at second base, junior Diana Kalman at third base, junior Megan Roberts in center field, and sophomore Rebecca Flynn in right field.

Others varsity players who will be vying for time on the field include juniors Taylor Myers, Stephanie Redding, and Jaime Gallo; sophomores Jill Hay, Tatum Punzo, and Stephanie Sorrentino; and freshmen Tori Heaphy, Kayla Rosario, Kayla Goodrich, Brooke Clancy, Sammie Franceschi, and Carly Cordova.

Mauro, Myers, and Heaphy should form a solid trio on the mound for East Haven, and Coach Crisafi said they’ve all fared well during the team’s scrimmages this spring.

“We’re not strikeout pitchers. Heaphy is the quickest out of the three. Taylor relies on spotting the ball, has a nice change, and has developed a curve. Selena really relies on hitting her spots,” Crisafi said. “All are going to be key. All three looked good in our three scrimmages.”

As all three are contact pitchers, Crisafi knows his team will need to be solid in the field this season. Crisafi isn’t necessarily looking for highlight-reel plays. He feels that if the Yellowjackets make the routine plays, they’ll be in every single game.

“We’re going to have to play good defense...The girls have to make all the routine plays. Do that and we’ll be fine,” said Crisafi. “We can’t make blunders on the routine plays.”

The Yellowjackets will be making a mid-April trip to Florida to face some stiff competition against out-of-state opponents. Crisafi said those trips have helped East Haven jell in the past, and he’s looking for that to happen once again this year. With the first pitch on the way, the coach knows that his team is ready to leave it all out on the field in search of a state championship this spring.

“We have a dedicated group of girls. They know how good the program is, and they want to keep it that way and be a part of it,” Crisafi said. “As long as we stay together and support each other, that’ll make it easier.”

Junior Megan Roberts will be relied upon as a key defensive player when she patrols center field for the Yellowjackes’ softball squad in the 2018 campaign. Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Courier