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07/25/2023 11:18 PMReece Hebert really loves the routine-based nature of the preparation and playing time with regards to the game of softball, and she thrived off of that, as her diligence towards her craft made opposing hitters routinely frustrated after facing her.
The incoming North Haven softball senior pitcher did dance and swimming in her younger years before deciding upon softball after athletically emulating her older sister. This past spring, Reece recorded an earned-run average of 2.80 with 11 regular-season wins and two playoff victories, while striking out 84 batters and walking only 11 in 90 innings of work. North Haven notched a perfect 20-0 regular season before reaching the SCC Tournament finals and Class L State Tournament quarterfinals.
“I love the structure of softball and the routine of practicing with your team and by yourself. I also love setting time to be with your teammates and just have fun,” says Reece. “For me, it has been about taking preseason work very seriously. In the winter, I am constantly playing softball and taking part in a lot of solo practices, too. I put in a lot of preparation to make my season go as smoothly as possible.”
North Haven softball skipper Vinny Cretella notes that Reece has a killer instinct when it comes to finishing off her adversaries at the dish while being a pitcher that has added a great deal to her arsenal with confident command of her pitches and speed that only picks up as the contest goes on.
“Reece really took command of the mound this year. The mental aspect of the game became more evident when she got ahead of batters, she expanded the strike zone, making the batter hit her pitch, and keeping them off balance,” says Cretella. “A big difference from the year before with Reece is she always hits her spots around the plate with her movement. I feel that her velocity even picked up towards the end of the game and had more stamina than the year before to finish her starts. She worked well with [co-Head Coach Sarah Lombardi] calling the games. She loves the game and is always working hard. When she’s not pitching, she’s always right there for her teammates and cheering them on. She even goes to the JV games and coaches first base. It was great to watch her grow as a player and a person. I am looking forward to coaching her again next year.”
When speaking to her own vast array of tosses, Reece is on the rise in more ways than one in deceiving hitters and getting them off their focus and game. When it comes to her own mind games, she explains that one cannot be averse to enhancing their abilities and workshopping their weaknesses.
“My rise ball has been my best pitch; this past season, I was catching a lot of people off guard by changing their eye levels with it. My curve ball has been working really nicely for me as well the last few weeks,” Reece says. “Over the years, I learned how to deal with the mental part of the game. I always know there will be more opportunities to work on things I struggle with and that I must not be afraid to address them. You can’t put off fixing your struggles.”
When it comes to calling the game with either her coaches or battery mates behind home plate, Reece is not afraid to work the interior of the strike zone, though she is steadily making her way towards the outside.
“I have spent a lot of time with coaches on pitch calling and when and where to use certain pitches,” says Reece. “I actually love throwing inside. There is more risk with it, but I have never really faced that risk. I have struggled with pitching outside, but I am working on it. I have also been working on changing eye levels and speeds.”
It was an historic campaign for the Nighthawks in 2023, and as a hearty hurler, Reece was right smack dab in the middle of the marvelous madness. She details that it was cohesion and never-faltering faith in her mates to get the job done when she pitched to contact.
“I have been on this team for three years now, and this past year was one of the best-bonded teams,” Reece says. “I felt the girls always had my back, and if a ball was hit, I knew the play would be made. We took the game seriously, but we did not let the seriousness of the game affect us.”
Heading into her senior season, Reece will continue to proactively prepare for it and the road beyond North Haven academically. She concludes that this past spring’s postseason push has only fueled her teammates’ fire and desire to delve deeper towards the championship chase in 2024.
“Next season, I want to increase my velocity, and I will put in the work to get my velocity and also hit my spots with my command. I also want to find a suitable college for myself,” says Reece. “We have similar expectations; we hope to do as good as we can in the regular season and go further in SCCs and states. I am excited to be part of this team and see how far we can go next year.”