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05/12/2016 12:00 AMWhen Laura Anderson started playing softball in 3rd grade, she never imagined that she’d one day earn a spot in Yellowjackets’ history by helping the team win a state championship. However, Laura did just that last spring, when she tossed a two-hitter to help East Haven top Fitch 4-2 in the Class L final and give the Yellowjackets their second state title in program history.
“The state championship game, I wasn’t nervous going in, but I was kind of shaky as I gave up a hit and two runs in the first inning. After that, I calmed down and got my confidence back,” says Laura. “Winning that game and throwing a two-hitter, I got a lot more confidence in my pitching. I never expected to throw a two-hitter against Fitch, who was the No. 1 team in the state. I had a lot of confidence, but I was surprised in myself. It was great to pitch a two-hitter.”
Laura’s ability to mix and match her “junk,” as Head Coach Ed Crisafi calls it, is one of the main reasons why she’s so effective on the mound.
“She has five pitches and has confidence in each pitch. [Assistant Coach] Jeff [Crisafi] calls the game for her and she has the opposing batters totally off-balanced,” says Crisafi. “It’s tough seeing curve, screw, change, and then she comes in with a fastball. It makes that pitch so much faster. She has slow starts sometimes, but when she gets past the first or second, she becomes a proverbial bulldog. She gets better and stronger as the game goes on.”
In addition to working with the Crisafis, Laura goes to a pitching coach in Cheshire, who keeps her mechanics in check and teaches her new pitches.
“Throughout my years, they taught me a ton of different pitches. When I go to my pitching coach, they help me with my mechanics,” says Laura. “My favorite pitches are my dropball and dropcurve. I also have two different changeups to keep the batters off-balanced and a two-seam fastball.”
Laura pitched six innings between her freshman and sophomore years as she was next in line behind Talia Loda. Laura was eager for her turn on the mound and got she it as a junior last year, when she threw 58.1 innings. Laura was 6-3 with an ERA of 3.00 for the regular season, after which she pitched the Yellowjackets to victory in five State Tournament games. In seven starts this year, she’s 5-2.
“My first two seasons, Tal was on the mound. We were similar, but she pitches side to side more as I pitch more up and down,” says Laura. “Last year, I started the season rough, giving up a lot of runs. They put me in the North Haven game to win the Oronoque and that’s when I showed them I was a better pitcher. From then, I pitched more in the tournaments and my confidence grew.”
Laura has also stepped up her game at the dish the past two seasons. Last year, she hit .457 with 37 hits, 23 RBI, and 17 runs scored. Through 13 games this season, Laura is batting .412 with 21 hits, including a home run, to go with 12 RBI and 18 runs scored.
“I have a hitting coach that I’ve gone to the past few years, who has helped me be more aggressive and put the ball in play more,” she says. “He’s helped me become more powerful and, this year, I’ve been hitting more line drives and the home run.”
Laura also earned the nod as one of the Easties’ captains this season and it’s a role she’s enjoying.
“My role in being captain is to keep the team together. I keep the good chemistry that got us to the state championship game last year,” says Laura, who thanks her parents and coaches for her softball success. “I feel like I connect more with my teammates as a captain. Our whole team is confident and we’re hungry for another state championship.”
Next spring, Laura will lace up her spikes for Division III Albertus Magnus College. She had her college choice down to three schools, but ultimately chose Albertus due to its coach and the school’s proximity to home.
“I started my college search sophomore year because I knew I wanted to play in college. I ultimately narrowed it down to Mount St. Vincent in New York, Albertus, and Springfield. I wanted to stay close to home, so I could commute home when I wanted to, so I chose Albertus,” says Laura. “I’ve known the college coach for a while since he’s followed me for a few years, so I felt comfortable with the connection. I’m undecided on my major and they have a lot of options, so that was good for me, plus I like the small campus feel.”