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08/22/2022 11:51 AMThe Yellowjacket Softball Clinic provides a way for girls entering grades 4 through 9 to get a feel of East Haven softball program as they learn about the game from the team’s players and coaches. Following a two-year hiatus, the clinic returned for its 13th iteration this summer, helping the future generation of Easties’ ballplayers prepare for next step of their careers.
This year’s Yellowjackets softball clinic took place at East Haven High School from Aug. 15 to 19. The clinic was hosted by Ed Crisafi, the head coach of the East Haven softball program; and his son Jeff Crisafi, who is an assistant coach with the squad. As in past years, the clinic was presented by the East Haven Recreation Department.
There were 15 athletes that participated in the Yellowjacket Softball Clinic this year. That number has typically fluctuated between 15 and 25 since the clinic was first held in 2008. The clinic offers an opportunity for young athletes to take part in drills that are similar to the ones the Easties do prior to every varsity contest. It also gives them a chance to meet the members of East Haven’s coaching staff and start building connections before they enter high school.
“Over the years, we have had between 15 to 25 girls. We put all the kids through the drills at a little bit lower level than we actually do in high school to get them ready,” Coach Ed Crisafi said. “It’s a great opportunity for us to meet the young kids coming up. It gives them a taste of what it’s like.”
The Yellowjacket Softball Clinic is partially coached by members of the high school team. While Jeff Crisafi introduced the drills and fellow Assistant Coach Talia Loda made sure they went smoothly, each drill at the clinic was primarily run by several of the athletes who will be competing for the East Haven softball squad in 2023.
This year, the Yellowjackets saw incoming seniors Autumn Clancy, Gianna Bernovich, Arielle Dupree, and Lily Gagnon lend a hand at the clinic, along with rising sophomores Lexi Heaphy and Gianna Santoro. By having the athletes run the drills, Ed Crisafi feels that they’re able to grow as role models and learn how to become strong leaders both and off the field.
“They love it. They’re able to become role models. The young kids look up to them,” said Crisafi. “Jeff introduces the drills, but the girls will actually run them. It’s a great opportunity for them to become role models and for them to show the young kids what the program is like. Hopefully, they’ll want to be a part of it.”
Coach Crisafi said that one of the goals of the Yellowjacket Softball Clinic is to run drills that mirror the ones done by the high school players. While they might not be at quite the same intensity level, Crisafi wants the drills to focus on the finer details of the game, while ensuring that the participants understand what to expect from the East Haven softball program.
Several of the participants in this year’s clinic had competed at the middle school level during the spring season. With high school around the corner, those players were able to get a good understanding of what it takes to be a successful varsity athlete.
“We work on hand-eye coordination drills, catching pop-ups on the run,” Crisafi said. “It’s a scaled-down version of our practice drills. They like it.”
The East Haven softball team had a historic 2022 season that saw the Yellowjackets claim their first SCC title on their way to a school-record total of 23 victories. As Crisafi looked to build the program over the years, he felt that a summer clinic would be a great way to foster both talent and camaraderie among softball players in town. Crisafi was inspired by former Hand softball coach Ray Ezell, who has run the Victory Softball Camp. Crisafi thought that a similar situation would benefit the Easties and decided to give it a shot.
After beginning in 2008, the Yellowjacket Softball Clinic had been held every year until the past two years. Now that it’s back up and running, Coach Crisafi feels glad that the clinic continues to be a success and feels excited about what it can do for the future of softball in East Haven.
“I was trying to get the program up to where it is now,” said Crisafi. “I just decided, let’s do a softball clinic. It took off.”
Coach Crisafi is hoping to get more participants involved in next year’s clinic and beyond. Crisafi knows that there is a lot to gain by giving up-and-coming youngsters a firsthand view of where East Haven softball currently stands, along with a sense of some of the characteristics that make it a special program.
“Most of the young kids know how good the program is now. It has been a key,” Crisafi said. “They get to see it from a young age. Then when they get up with us, they know what it’s all about, and they really get into it.”