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06/22/2020 12:00 AMThis East Haven softball team was going to have a tough act to follow this year after the Yellowjackets saw such a strong finish to the 2019 season. East Haven made a run to the championship game of the Class L State Tournament, defeating top-seeded St. Joseph in the process, on its way to an overall record of 15-10 last spring. The Easties accepted the challenge and felt they had the pieces in place for another great campaign, but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented Head Coach Ed Crisafi’s squad from taking the field in 2020.
Coach Crisafi and his athletes were upset that the team was unable to try to match, or even top, last year’s success. Crisafi said that former players and members of the East Haven community reached out to express their disappointment.
“I’ve gotten texts and emails from a couple ex-players wondering what was going on and if there was going to be a season and how the girls were handling everything. People were interested and really felt bad for the six seniors,” said Crisafi. “Everyone I texted or talked to knew that we had a shot to win the state championship. Nothing is won on paper, but there was a lot of interest and a lot of disappointment. A lot of people were looking forward to coming and supporting the team and supporting the girls.”
Even though Yellowjackets never got the opportunity to play, the East Haven softball team still found a way to honor its seniors. On June 6, members of the team and some of their parents got together at assistant coach Jeff Crisafi’s house for a senior sendoff. The underclass athletes presented gifts to the seniors, and every junior gave a speech in honor of each one of those six seniors. East Haven’s seniors are captains Becky Flynn, Jillian Hay, and Stephanie Sorrentino, who are outfielders, along with fellow outfielder Rebecca DeMatteo and infielders Kaylee Vollano and Anna Guiliani.
“Obviously, it was different. We knew there was no season, but it was nice to see all of them there. There were a lot of tears,” Ed Crisafi said. “The parents were very appreciative of the coaching staff and what we have done over the four years. It was a nice group. I really felt bad for them, as probably every coach does in every sport.”
Flynn, Hay, and Sorrentino each had at least one season of varsity experience heading into their senior year. DeMatteo, Vollano, and Guiliani did not play with the varsity team during their first three seasons, but were looking forward to getting that chance as seniors. Regardless of anyone’s playing status, Coach Crisafi said that this collection of seniors was always accountable and represented the program with pride.
“They were there every day, practicing hard and leading by example. They were at conditioning all three nights during the season,” said Crisafi. “The three that had at least one year of varsity experience led by their words and were respected by their upperclassmen. The other three were also hard workers who didn’t have a chance to play varsity their three years. They did the same thing. They were there all the time. All the girls know our program. They come to practice, they work hard, they all led by example for the underclassmen.”
Flynn, a right fielder, was a varsity starter for all three years that she played at East Haven. Last season, she socked a two-run walk-off homer to give the Easties a 4-3 victory versus Hand in the first round of the Class L State Tournament.
Flynn enjoyed attending the senior sendoff and said it was nice for the seniors to receive recognition, despite not having a season. Flynn felt that it was especially touching to hear the juniors speak about all the special moments that everyone shared as a group.
“All the juniors talked about all the memories we had together,” Flynn said. “How we went to Florida together two years ago, how they looked up to us, how we have been big influences, and everything in between.”
When Flynn reflects upon her time at East Haven, she isn’t going to think about the unexpected ending to her career. Instead, Flynn is always going to remember the culture that the Yellowjackets have developed both on and off diamond.
“It’s a family. I don’t know how to describe this any other way than family. You can trust each other with anything,” said Flynn. “We’re the best of friends. It’s really like a family bond. Everybody has so much love and respect for each other. It’s really just a great environment to play in.”
As he thinks ahead to next season, Coach Crisafi wants his returning players to look at the way this year’s seniors handled their disappointing circumstance. When the Easties get back on the field, Crisafi wants them to follow in the seniors’ footsteps and continue developing the culture of East Haven softball.
“Two years ago, our senior group was filled with just awesome leaders, both on and off the field. This group of seniors that didn’t get to play, they took it from there, and they led and did the exact same things,” Crisafi said. “Next year’s seniors, we should have six of them, could all start. Hopefully, they’ve learned from their two years and will lead the same way. I have no doubt that they will.”