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Branford Softball Features Some Great Leaders

In 2019, with two games remaining in Tori Ramada’s first year as head coach of the Branford softball team, the Hornets squared off against Wilbur Cross on their home field. The game was tied 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning, when Abby Spivey singled in the winning run to give Branford a 3-2 victory. While the Hornets ultimately missed making states by one win, Coach Ramada felt that the victory versus Cross gave her squad a glimpse of a promising future.

“It was a key game, because it showed me how much they improved since the beginning of the season and how much they cared about the game,” said Ramada. “It was so rewarding as a coach to see them run in a huddle, cheer each other on, and celebrate that big win.”

Branford finished with a record of 7-13 in the 2019 season. The COVID-19 pandemic has upset the 2020 season, with the word still out on whether games will be played this year.

Coach Ramada has been relying on her three senior captains to help communicate with the team. Spivey, fellow infielder Lily Moore-Markey, and outfielder Madison Acquarulo were named Branford’s captains for 2020 based on their performance last year, as well as their proven ability to lead.

“They really proved to me last year that they were ready to lead the team,” Ramada said. “They already have a good bond with all of the underclassmen. They stayed in contact all winter. They pushed the girls to do workouts. You could tell that they were driven to have a successful season. They were ready and motivated to make states, even if it was just one more win. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

Coach Ramada has been speaking with the captains regularly and emailing all of her athletes updates on any potential season. Ramada said that all three senior captains are doing an excellent job of keeping the team together through group chats and social media, ensuring that the Hornets are prepared, even with the campaign in question.

Ramada was a captain when she played for the softball squad at North Branford High School. She wants Branford’s senior captains to learn just as much off the field as they do on the diamond.

“Being a captain in high school myself, it was a lot on me to communicate with the team and make sure they knew what was going on. I work with the girls to have success on the field and develop their skills, but I also want them to develop skills they can take with them throughout their work career and the rest of their lives,” Ramada said. “Leadership responsibility is definitely important, and that’s why I give that captains that responsibility. They earned it. It shows that they’re driven and passionate about the rest of their team.”

Aside from the three senior captains, the athletes on Branford’s roster include juniors Leila Czekaj-Saleh, Kaitlyn Dugan, Sophia Esposito, Lily Hitchcock, Isabelle Michaud, and Paige Richardson; along with sophomores Jenna Barba, Marzia Johnson, Carley Ortiz, and Hailey Seay. The Hornets bid farewell to last year’s senior captains, who were pitcher/outfielder Lexi Falcigno, outfielder Kaitlyn Kaczor, and infielder Jessica Shanley.

Coach Ramada said that last season’s team excelled on defense and was “a very close group of girls.” With many of the same athletes returning, Ramada was expecting this year’s club to continue improving in all aspects of the game.

“They had the benefit of bonding so much last year. They’re a comfortable group of girls that aren’t afraid to work together or talk to each other,” Ramada said. “Based on experience, this year’s team would have been better and would have kept working on and off the field. Having an extra year under their belt would have been an improvement.”

Branford’s seven wins last spring marked the most for the program since 2014, which was also the last time the Hornets qualified for the Class L State Tournament. Coach Ramada said she’s aiming for Branford to get that critical eighth victory to make states when the team steps back on the ballfield.

“It’s going to take a lot of practice, repetition on and off the field. They need to have confidence. Without confidence and positivity, there’s not going to be a winning team,” said Ramada. “But they also need to have fun. If they work together and believe in themselves and believe in each other, they will have fun, which will lead to winning.”