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07/28/2016 12:00 AMElizabeth Gambardella is part of a family that’s synonymous with East Haven sports and she carried on that legacy by earning several accolades during her time as a Yellowjackets’ athlete. Based on her accomplishments, Elizabeth recently learned that she’s attained one of the biggest honors any Eastie can receive.
Elizabeth is the daughter of the late John Gambardella, who was a coach at East Haven High School. Elizabeth played volleyball and softball for the Yellowjackets before graduating in 2003 and was a captain for both clubs in her senior year. Owning a career batting average of .385, Elizabeth was named to the All-SCC Hammonasset Division Team in all four of her seasons with the softball squad and she was also selected for the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Coca-Cola Senior All-Star Team East as a senior. For the volleyball team, Elizabeth recorded a career average of 25 assists per match, made All-Hammonasset in her junior and senior years, and was also Second Team All-State for her senior campaign.
With such an impressive list of achievements, it’s only fitting that Elizabeth was selected for the East Haven High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame and she’ll be inducted into that elite class on Sunday, Nov. 20.
“Stephen Narracci called me two months ago just as I was leaving work and informed me of the news. I was shocked and very excited. I was honored and humbled to be in such great company,” says Elizabeth, who lives in New Haven. “My dad passed away two years ago and he was a huge role model to everyone and he also got me into athletics. I worked hard, so it was a nice award to receive.”
Elizabeth looks back fondly on the four years she spent with East Haven’s softball and volleyball squads and feels thankful for all the friendships she formed while competing for both programs. Elizabeth was also pleased to see her former softball skipper Ed Crisafi guide the team to the Class L state title in 2015.
“I was a freshman on teams with many seniors, but we just enjoyed each other. We were also one of the first softball teams to take part in the trip down to Disney’s Wide World of Sports in April. We had a ball there and learned a lot. Softball season was my favorite time of the year and I’m so happy for Ed Crisafi and the girls to win states last year,” says Elizabeth. “We put together some great teams in both programs and I’m still friends with many of my teammates today.”
Elizabeth left her stamp on the Yellowjackets by putting together a sensational senior year that saw the third baseman tee off to the tune of a .421 batting average. Coach Crisafi says the fact that Elizabeth manned the hot corner speaks volumes about her fearlessness on the field.
“She practiced and played hard and she was a great leader. She also made herself a better third baseman,” says Crisafi. “She went and played summer ball after her sophomore year and made herself a better player by going against bigger competition. There are a lot of hard-hit balls to third, but she wasn’t phased by anything. She was one of the most hard-nosed players I’ve had.”
The crowning feat of Elizabeth’s career on the volleyball court came in her senior year, when she netted herself a place among the best players in the state.
“I think my proudest achievement was being named All-State my senior year for volleyball because it was a pretty big surprise to me. I never thought I’d have a chance at that,” Elizabeth says. “The fact that I was even nominated for it was a highlight and it means a lot to have my name on a banner in that gym.”
Given her family history, Elizabeth says she felt some pressure while playing for East Haven, but she lived up to that stature with some help from another support system that consisted of her teammates and coaches.
“I didn’t enter the East Haven school system until high school, so I didn’t know anyone besides my dad and brother [Gennaro]. I was worried about being able to follow in their footsteps and be respected as much as them,” says Elizabeth. “I really appreciate all the support I got when I was there. You do your best to live up to your dad’s legacy when he was such a big name, but I just wanted to make him proud.”