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05/26/2016 12:00 AMScott Chidsey is a big believer that practice makes perfect and the recent success of the Morgan softball team is proof that the coach’s philosophy is paying off.
Scott grew up in Madison, where he played baseball at Hand and became an All-Conference player for his senior season. After moving to Clinton in 1991, Scott started coaching his kids in both Little League baseball and softball in town. Then four years ago, Scott was asked by Morgan softball Head Coach Sal Fiorillo if he wanted to come aboard as an assistant coach. The Huskies have strung together an excellent run in the subsequent seasons by making it to three-straight Shoreline Conference finals and winning the crown in 2014.
“Sal called me up, needed an assistant coach, knew my passion for softball, and so I jumped at it,” says Scott, who’s also coached AAU softball with the Connecticut Hornets. “I always had fond memories of baseball in high school, so I want the girls to have that same experience with me as a coach in softball, regardless if they are a starter or not.”
Scott says that his days at Daniel Hand not only served as a major motivating force for his time with the Tigers, but also for the rest of his life. While at Hand, Scott got to play for Steve Filippone, who was then the head coach of the baseball team and has since guided Tigers’ football to extraordinary heights.
“The biggest experience there was when I was cut from the team my freshman year, which was probably a good thing because it pushed me,” says Scott, who was Hand baseball’s Most Valuable Player as a senior in 1985. “I just tried to do things on my own from there to make the team the next year. Steve was a great coach that pushed us and I got a lot out of that. It was always a positive experience.”
Coach Fiorillo feels that Scott’s expertise in softball fundamentals, along with a fervor for the field, helps alleviate the pressure of being the Huskies’ skipper.
“He started coaching in Clinton Little League and, during that time, I observed the great things he accomplished. That is why I approached him to be involved with the Morgan softball family,” says Fiorillo. “Scott is our drill guy. He is constantly finding things to make us better. For the past four years, he has taken the role of our defense and his work has paid off. We have been a real strong defensive team. Scott continues to get them better every day. His work effort is tremendous and he is ready to be a head coach one day. Having Scott on my bench is like having another head coach. His philosophy goes hand in hand with the way I view a game. He has passion, which the program responds to.”
Scott likes to bring a balance of intensity and levity to his practice sessions, although he adds that the real fun stems from seeing the girls grow and achieve those personal victories on the diamond.
“It all takes place in practice and so I try to come up with new drills for them. I believe they should be pushed, but still have fun with it because you put so much time into it and you should enjoy it. Practice is where it’s at if you want to have success,” Scott says. “I love seeing them come in as freshmen and watching them transition and grow as seniors. It’s always so nice to see these girls, no matter their roles, come in and have that success.”
As the Huskies gear up for what they hope is another prosperous postseason journey, Scott gives tremendous thanks to Fiorillo for letting him have a lot of freedom with how he conducts business on the field.
“It’s a great feeling to be a part of the success here. A lot of it has truly been because of the kids. We may have some bumps in the road after graduating some kids following this year, but I’m always thinking of new ways to teach them,” says Scott, who thanks his wife Tracy, along with children, Matt and Ashlyn, for their support and encouragement. “Whatever I want to try, Sal let’s me go ahead with it. It’s never just his way and that’s what has helped me as a coach. It also keeps me hungry.”