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04/03/2022 12:00 AMDespite graduating six seniors from last year, the East Haven softball team enters the 2022 season with numerous players who have seen extensive varsity playing time. Head Coach Ed Crisafi is hoping that all of the experience, coupled with what the Yellowjackets learned during last season’s playoff run, will help East Haven continue to establish itself as one of the top squads in the state.
East Haven finished with an overall record of 18-4 while advancing to the semifinals of the Class L State Tournament in 2021. The Easties began their new campaign by posting a 13-1, five-inning home victory versus North Branford in their opening matchup on April 2.
Head Coach Ed Crisafi said that the Yellowjackets were limited in what they could do during the preseason due to inclement weather around Connecticut. East Haven was able to get in two scrimmages by playing Jonathan Law and Fairfield Ludlowe. While the total number of players on the roster is down from last year, Coach Crisafi was impressed with the way that his team battled while displaying a strong mentality throughout the preseason.
This year, the Yellowjackets are being led by three senior captains in pitcher/shortstop Emilee Bishop, catcher Lena Barthel, and third baseman/outfielder Jilien Ayala. Barthel earned All-SCC First Team accolades for East Haven last year, while Ayala and Bishop were both All-SCC Second Team selections.
Bishop picked up her game at the end of the 2021 season and pitched all three of East Haven’s games in the Class L State Tournament, finishing the year with a 7-1 record, a 1.23 ERA, and 78 strikeouts in 62 innings pitched to go with a .431 batting average. Coach Crisafi is expecting Bishop’s momentum from last season to carry over into her senior campaign.
Barthel hit .462 with 10 doubles and 33 RBI last year, leading the Easties in all three categories. Despite losing her sophomore season, Barthel is only 22 hits away from reaching 100 for her high school career. Crisafi is looking for the senior catcher to be one of the Yellowjackets’ leaders on offense this spring.
Coach Crisafi called Ayala the jack-of-all-trades on East Haven’s roster. Ayala has rotated between the outfield and third base since her freshman year and can also play catcher if need be. Last year, Ayala batted .379 and had 16 runs scored for the Easties.
All three captains are four-year players at East Haven and will continue their softball careers in college. Crisafi said that each one of his captains is a great leader who has helped his program become a state powerhouse.
While Bishop will serve as the team’s primary pitcher, the Yellowjackets have two other solid options behind the senior right-hander. Junior Lily Gagnon, who is the team’s starting second baseman, is currently East Haven’s No. 2 pitcher. Crisafi said that Gagnon’s velocity is up and that she pitched well during the preseason. Freshman Gianna Santoro, the team’s starting right fielder, has been a pleasant surprise and is also showing some good velocity on the mound.
Along with the captains and pitchers, Coach Crisafi is expecting a quartet of returning players to produce for East Haven at the plate this year. Junior Autumn Clancy missed most of last season after suffering an injury, but was hitting at a .444 clip before getting hurt. With Clancy now at full strength, Crisafi is looking for the junior to take a step forward in 2022.
Junior Adriana Franceschi will be starting in center field for East Haven. Crisafi saw considerable playing time in right field last year and is ready to take over in center field this season.
Sophomore Gianna Fowler is East Haven’s designated player and also its backup catcher. Fowler hit .300 with 16 RBI last season, and Coach Crisafi calls her a dangerous weapon in the lineup with her powerful bat.
Junior Arielle Dupree is the starting left fielder for the Yellowjackets after seeing playing time last year. East Haven also has two freshmen in its starting lineup with Santoro in right field and Alexa Heaphy at the shortstop spot.
With so many talented athletes returning to the roster, Coach Crisafi understands that there are once again some great expectations for his team. As the Yellowjackets begin a new campaign, Crisafi said that his players are battle-tested and ready to show everyone in the state that they’re a quality squad.
“They know what they have been a part of. The way they carry themselves, they know they’re going to be in every game,” Crisafi said. “The only team they haven’t beaten in their four years is Cheshire. We have to go into that game with a little bit of swag and not be intimidated. They’ve been through the mill. They’ve been through the wars. They know what it’s all about.”
East Haven hosted North Branford for its first game of the 2022 season at The Pit on April 2 and won the contest 13-1 in 5 innings. Bishop pitched all 5 innings for the Easties, striking out 5 to go with just 1 walk and 1 hit allowed. The Yellowjackets had some extra motivation coming into the game and set the tone for the victory by plating eight runs in the first inning.
“The girls knew that they were ranked under North Branford. That gave them an added incentive,” said Crisafi. “Emilee was Emilee yesterday. She was on. When you score eight in the first, it doesn’t make things easier on them.”
In addition to her work in the circle, Bishop also went 3-for-3 with a double and 2 RBI at the dish for East Haven. Fowler had 2 hits, including a home run, to go with 3 RBI in the victory. Ayala had 2 hits with 3 runs scored, while Barthel went 1-for-3 with 2 RBI. Franceschi reached based on a pair of bunt singles and rounded the bases to score a run both times.
With its recent success, the East Haven softball team has turned itself into one of the Connecticut’s best programs. While there are always lofty goals to accomplish, Coach Crisafi said that this year’s edition of the Yellowjackets is ready to face them head-on and play the style of softball that everyone in town has become accustomed to.
“Go on the field and do what we’re supposed to do. Play good defense, timely hitting, good pitching,” Crisafi said. “As long as we get those three and don’t have a meltdown in one of them, we’re going to be in every game that we play. Hopefully, it helps us achieve those lofty goals that East Haven softball has.”
The East Haven softball team’s roster features senior captains Emilee Bishop, Lena Barthel, and Jilien Ayala; juniors Lily Gagnon, Arielle Dupree, Callie Capotorto, Adriana Franchesci, Gianna Bernovich, and Autumn Clancy; sophomores Miranda Consiglio and Gianna Fowler; and freshmen Gianna Santoro, Isabella Jaskowicz, Alexa Heaphy, Hailey Cooper, and Keyonna Davenport.