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06/24/2018 12:00 AMThe Guilford softball team saved its best stuff for the bright lights and big stage of the Class L State Tournament this spring. Although the Indians didn’t bring home the gold, they developed plenty of momentum heading toward the future after advancing to the quarterfinals of the state draw and finishing the season with 16 victories.
Head Coach Steve Zajac’s club played to a regular-season mark of 14-6 that included a record of 6-2 in the SCC Hammonasset Division, placing second behind Cheshire. As the No. 5 seed in the SCC Tournament, Guilford took a 7-3 defeat against No. 4 seed and eventual Class LL state champion Amity in the quarterfinal round.
Then in the Class L State Tournament, No. 10 seed Guilford started off by blasting No. 23 Rockville by an 18-3 score in a first-round matchup. The following day, the Indians took down No. 26 seed Mercy, 11-1, in a second-round contest. Guilford saw its campaign come to a close with a 4-1 loss to No. 2 seed Hand in the quarterfinals to finish with an overall record of 16-8.
Coach Zajac said the Indians’ greatest moments of the season came with their two dominant efforts to start off the State Tournament. Guilford pounded out 31 hits, including five doubles and three home runs, in its victories versus Rockville and Mercy.
“I felt we played our best combination of hitting, pitching, and defense all year. Our hitting was outstanding. Our pitching was also outstanding, as Amanda King was on her game in the circle. She struck out 20 and gave up only four hits in the two games,” said Zajac. “Against Mercy, after giving up an RBI double to the third batter, Amanda got 19 of the next 20 girls out. Unfortunately, our season came to an end in the quarterfinals, but I was very proud to have coached this group through the season. They were not only outstanding softball players, but also great girls who represented Guilford as well as I could have asked.”
For King, the 2018 was a crowning cap on an excellent career at Guilford High School. She finishes her tenure with the softball program with a .427 batting average, 117 hits, 101 RBI, and 101 runs scored. On the mound, King recorded 47 career wins and 574 strikeouts with the Indians. In states this spring, she had a 12-strikeout game versus Rockville, a one-hitter against Mercy, and gave up only two earned runs in the tournament. King hit .500 (6-of-12) with a homer and seven RBI during the postseason.
“Amanda is one of the finest players to put on an Indian uniform in my 22 years. The numbers don’t tell the whole story,” Zajac said. “Amanda is a three-time captain for our team, taking on the responsibility of a leadership role as a sophomore and continuing through her senior year. She has an outstanding softball IQ. Amanda understands what it takes to win. She dedicated herself to pitching after her sophomore season and became one of the best in a great league. She always respected the game, playing it the right way. She always played hard between the lines, while respecting her opponents and the umpires.”
Guilford’s senior class was further bolstered by the presence of second baseman Sara Barreira and center fielder Charlotte Young. Coach Zajac praised both athletes for being part of a terrific trio of seniors who proved exemplary role models for the underclass athletes in the dugout.
“Charlotte has worked hard to turn herself into a good ballplayer who covers lots of ground in the outfield and has a knack for getting on the bases and making things happen at the right time. I was very proud that Charlotte was such a good leader of our young outfield,” Zajac said. “Sara has been a varsity player since her freshman year and a fixture in the starting lineup the last three years. Sara has been a mainstay in our infield and will be tough to replace next season.”
The Indians’ seniors received quite a sendoff on Senior Night, when Guilford rallied for a 4-2 win over eventual Class L semifinalist Law. Zajac said that both his seniors and juniors came up clutch to get things moving and spur the squad to victory.
“One of the highlights for me was the Senior Night victory over Law. Senior Night victories are always fantastic. Law was a team that reached the Class L semifinals, and we beat them twice,” said Zajac. “We couldn’t get the bats going early, and Law took a 2-0 lead. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, [junior] Jordyn Goldstein got us going with a huge two-run homer to tie the game. The following inning, Charlotte Young got us going with a one-out bunt single, moved to second on a bunt, and then scored the winning run on a double by [junior] Ava Gladwin.”
King was named the SCC Player of the Year, in addition to making the All-State Team, the All-SCC First Team, and the New Haven Register’s All-Area Team for Guilford. King was selected to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game, while Gladwin was chosen to play in the Junior All-Star Game. Gladwin also earned All-SCC Second Team honors. Goldstein, fellow juniors Emily Torre and Leah Kornguth, and sophomore Eva Ott Hill were honored as Scholar Athletes. Barreira was picked to compete in the Scholar Athlete Classic on behalf of the Indians.
For team honors, King was named Guilford’s Most Valuable Player, Young won the Sportsmanship Award, freshman Jillian Batick was the Rookie of the Year, freshman Olivia Meade was named Most Improved Player, and Gladwin took home the Coaches’ Award.
The Indians certainly have several of the pieces in place to follow up this year’s run with another solid season. Next year, Guilford will welcome back eight players who started at least 10 games in 2018, including sophomore Mary Evans, who had a home run with six RBI in the win against Rockville; along with Batick, junior Jess Smith, and Hill in the outfield. The infield will also feature experience around the infield with Goldstein (.361 average, 2 homers, 20 RBI this year), Gladwin (.406, 24 runs scored, and only 2 errors), Torre (4 homers, 19 RBI, 20 runs scored, only 1 error), and Kornguth (7 doubles, 13 RBI).
“Leah is an outstanding defensive catcher,” said Coach Zajac. “Amanda’s graduation will leave us with an opening in the circle. This year, freshman Ema Signore pitched in seven games for us, and we are hoping she will step up into the starting role next season. I feel like we will be a Class L State Tournament team next year and compete for the division title.”
From the Sidelines
Guilford’s regular-season wins came against East Lyme (5-0), Sacred Heart Academy (12-2 and 6-1), Branford (15-5 and 16-4), Lyman Hall (8-5), Career (13-0 and 15-0), Law (5-0 and 4-2), Foran (7-4 and 6-1), and Shelton (13-6 and 12-4). The Indians’ defeats came to Hand (10-4 and 6-4), Lyman Hall (3-0), East Lyme (7-1), and Cheshire (2-0 and 4-0).
Steve Zajac completed his 16th season as the Indians’ skipper.
The assistant coaches for Guilford this year were Meghan Wiese, who was in her second season; and Christa Parisi, who was in her fourth season.