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05/04/2022 12:00 AMDuring her first year with the East Haven softball team, Lily Gagnon watched as the Yellowjackets made a run to the Class L state semifinals when she was a sophomore. Now a junior, Lily has found her place on the Easties by becoming the team’s starting varsity second baseman, as well as a standout pitcher this season.
With her mother Kerri competing in softball and gymnastics and her father Sean playing baseball growing up, Lily feels that she was essentially “born into” being an athlete. Lily says that both of her parents encouraged her to start playing softball and have always helped her improve in any way they could.
“It was great. My dad was the one who would go down to the field with me. We would just hit balls. He soft tossed to me all the time,” says Lily. “My mom is always there. She’s at every game. She’s my No. 1 supporter.”
At the age of 10, Lily started playing at The Pit in East Haven. One year later, she joined the CT Rebels travel team and now competes for their 18-U travel showcase team.
Lily says that playing so much softball helped her develop a passion for the sport as she learned every position on the diamond. While she patrolled the outfield, shortstop, and third base as a youngster, Lily settled into second base during her 8th-grade season. Second base is now her favorite place to play.
In addition to playing the field, Lily is also a pitcher for the East Haven softball team. Lily, a right-hander, is one of the top pitchers on the squad next to senior captain Emilee Bishop. After pitching a little bit at The Pit, Lily decided to take it more seriously and began taking lessons. Now, whenever she’s on the mound, Lily is focused on the batter at hand and making sure that every pitch is her best.
“I really just take it one pitch at a time. I only think about what pitch I’m throwing at that exact moment,” Lily says. “I don’t want to look too far ahead. I just take it one step at a time and focus on the batter I’m on.”
Whether she’s in the field or on the mound, Lily just loves playing softball and wants to contribute to her team as much as possible. That’s why Lily was committed to learning numerous positions and doing her best to succeed at each of them.
“No matter what position I’m in, I always have the same motive: Keep the ball in front of me and make the plays I’m supposed to,” Lily says. “I never wanted to limit myself to one position. I always wanted to be versatile no matter what team I’m on. I never want to sit out. I love being on the field and helping any way I can.”
After seeing her freshman season get canceled, Lily joined the Yellowjackets in her sophomore year and was playing varsity softball. Lily spent a lot of time working with then-senior Sammie Franceschi at second base.
While the immediate leap to the varsity stage was a big one, Lily’s skills grew quickly as she faced stronger competition.
“It was definitely a big jump. Varsity is very competitive,” says Lily. “I really like to be in the game more, so having the harder competition at varsity is better for me.”
East Haven finished with a record of 18-4 in its way to making the semifinals of the Class L State Tournament last year. In the quarterfinal round, the Yellowjackets defeated Waterford 1-0 on a home run in the ninth inning by 2021 graduate Brooke Clancy. Lily wasn’t getting as much playing time during the postseason, but she embraced the playoff atmosphere and enjoyed supporting her teammates every step of the way.
“Going to the states last year was such an amazing feeling. Right then, I wasn’t playing a lot, but I loved every moment of it. I didn’t want to do anything else but support my team,” Lily says. “I was so excited during the Waterford game. I wasn’t even playing, but I loved being there and watching it happen.”
Now a full-time varsity starter, Lily wants to help East Haven go on another deep run in states. After feeling the adrenaline rush of playoff softball last year, Lily wants her younger teammates to experience that same feeling this season.
Thus far, Lily has notched three wins on the mound for the Yellowjackets, who are sporting a record of 9-2.
Head Coach Ed Crisafi has taken note of Lily’s team-first attitude. Crisafi has also noticed how much Lily has improved her softball skills, saying that the junior is a critical piece of the Easties’ success this season.
“Lily is the consummate teammate. She puts the team first above herself and has helped us tremendously on and off the field,” says Crisafi. “Not only has she played a stellar second base, but she has shown great strides as a pitcher, as shown by her performances on the mound when Emilee went down with injury.”
After getting a taste of the postseason, Lily is hoping to help the Yellowjackets continue their tradition of making noise in the playoffs this year. Lily feels that the teammates and coaches around her are what makes the East Haven softball program successful. Lily feels proud to play for an Easties’ team that’s shaping her into the softball player she wants to be.
“I wouldn’t want a better trait in myself than being on this softball team,” Lily says. “All the coaches and players are a big family to me. I wouldn’t know what to do without them.”