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05/27/2021 12:00 AMEma Signore is the epitome of consistency on the softball field. A senior captain pitcher for the Guilford softball team, Ema has never missed a game in her high school career and has started on the mound in 37 of the squad’s 38 contests over her past two seasons.
After seeing her junior campaign get canceled, Ema felt grateful to compete for the Grizzlies this spring. Ema and her teammates made the most of the time that they spent together on the diamond.
“Going into the season, my mindset was to take it game by game and to play each game to the fullest, not knowing if we would get to play the next one with possibility of COVID quarantines out there,” Ema says. “As a team, we did a great job of following all the COVID guidelines in place to keep each other healthy and safe.”
Ema joined the varsity team as a freshman and has pitched plenty of complete games for Guilford dating back to her sophomore year. She’s also produced at the plate and finished the 2021 season with a .300 batting average for a young Grizzlies’ club.
“I feel like our season went well overall. The fact that we were able to play all 18 games on our schedule without a COVID pause was a great team accomplishment,” says Ema. “We were a young team with a lot of new varsity players, and I thought our improvement as a team from the first game to the last game was something to be proud of.”
Head Coach Meghan Wiese lauds Ema for her sheer determination as a softball player. Ema wanted to turn in a strong showing in 2021 following the cancellation of last season, and Coach Wiese says that her senior right-hander certainly answered the bell.
“Back in the circle for her senior year, Ema was determined to finish her softball career in the Guilford uniform stronger than ever,” says Wiese. “She had solid showings against Sacred Heart, Hand, and Law this season. Her determination to always get better is admiring. Ema is focused and composed when she is in the pitching circle.”
Coach Wiese was also impressed with how Ema led the Grizzlies both on and off the field. Wiese feels that Ema provided everything that her team was looking for in a captain this year.
“As a captain and leader, Ema makes sure everyone is included and is constantly working hard,” Wiese says. “You can see she wants the best for her teammates and is someone you can always count on.”
Even though her high school career is coming to a close, Ema continues to look for ways to improve her game. Ema spends plenty of time sharpening her softball skills throughout the offseason.
“I go to pitching lessons at USA Elite in Cheshire year-round,” says Ema. “I also workout at Mangino Strength & Conditioning in the offseason, as well as play travel softball during the summer and fall with the Connecticut Eliminators.”
Ema started playing softball when she was six, and her love for the sport has grown more and more with each passing season. While this spring marked her final season with the Grizzlies, Ema still has a lot of softball ahead of her. Later this year, Ema will attend Albertus Magnus College to major in accounting and play softball for the Falcons.
“There are so many things about softball that I enjoy, including the bonds you build with teammates. But I have to say my favorite aspect of softball is definitely its competitive nature, especially as a pitcher,” Ema says. “I will be attending Albert Magnus College in the fall, and I’m excited to continue my softball career with the Falcons.”