This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
06/17/2021 12:00 AMAs Olivia Olson played more and more softball while growing up, she realized how much she wanted to be on the mound. Olivia patiently waited for her opportunity to pitch for the North Haven varsity softball squad and got her shot as a senior, becoming a key part of the team’s rotation and a captain this season.
Olivia began her journey through softball in Max Sinoway tee-ball when she was five. Soon after, Olivia started playing for the town’s recreational league, where her father Scott was one of her coaches. Olivia’s dad and her mother Leslie encouraged her to play softball and helped foster her love for the sport.
“My dad was one of my coaches for the rec team. He helped me along. He made me like it more,” Olivia says. “It was nice getting his advice. It was cool to be comfortable with him and already know him as a person. To have that relationship with softball, too, was great.”
Olivia continued playing rec softball through 8th grade. She also started playing for North Haven Middle School and the CT Pride travel team in 6th grade. With numerous years of experience, Olivia felt prepared for when the time came to join the varsity team.
When she reached high school, Olivia spent her freshman and sophomore years cross-rostered between the JV and varsity squads. Those two seasons allowed Olivia to get a sense of the varsity game and gain an understanding of the brand of softball that North Haven likes to play.
“It introduced me to the high school level. I got to know the varsity coaches a little more,” says Olivia. “I would just pinch hit or pinch run here and there. But it was great to see just how they played at the varsity level.”
Olivia started pitching as a 6th-grader. During her freshman season, Olivia worked with program alum and then-coach Jen Cruver, who helped her improve with mechanical issues and her overall mindset on the mound. As she continued to progress, Olivia was unable to play during her junior season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, she continued to work with her then-pitching coach Larry Palin and did everything she could to get ready for senior year.
“It stunk that we didn’t get a season. But it didn’t stop me from going out and practicing,” Olivia says. “I had my pitching lessons and did get to play on my travel team over the summer. I just kept practicing and I didn’t let myself slack off.”
Returning as a senior, Olivia was promoted to the varsity roster this spring, making her first start in North Haven’s season opener against Shelton on the road. She pitched the first five innings and then came back in during the bottom of the seventh with North Haven up 7-6. Olivia retired the final two batters, giving North Haven the victory and earning her first varsity win in her first varsity start.
Olivia went on to notch several more victories in the circle during her senior season, helping North Haven post a record of 11-9, while qualifying for the SCC and Class L State tournaments.
“The first game was really nerve-wracking, but we won, so it was a really good confidence boost for me. It felt great. We were playing a really good team,” says Olivia. “I kind of found my groove and got more confident. By the end of the season everything just clicked.”
In addition to pitching varsity, Olivia spent her senior season as a captain for North Haven alongside fellow seniors Sydney Maenza, Jordan Maenza and Alex Ferriouolo. Olivia felt honored to be a captain and share that title with three people who she’s been playing softball with for several years.
“Being a captain was great. Every captain I was with, we all played softball together throughout our whole childhood, our whole middle school, and our whole high school experience,” Olivia says. “Being captain with them was amazing. We all saw eye-to-eye. It was easy to be captains with them.”
Head Coach Karen Castagnola saw Olivia get better on the mound every year that the right-hander played for North Haven. Castagnola was proud to see Olivia step up and become a workhorse for North Haven this year.
“I’ve coached Olivia since she was a freshman. She is one of the nicest and most hard-working players I’ve had the pleasure to coach,” Castagnola says. “Olivia came into this season with no varsity experience. She was a workhorse, sometimes pitching five games in a row. I asked a lot from her, and she poured her heart and soul into it. She kept us in every game until the end. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”
After growing up on a softball diamond, Olivia made the most of her chance to shine as a senior. Olivia feels thankful for the numerous coaches and teammates who have helped her reach her potential in the sport.
“Softball has become a huge part of my life. I play almost every month of every year,” Olivia says. “I really love the sport and every friendship I’ve made and every teammate I’ve had. All of my coaches over the years were amazing. The sport was amazing.”