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04/14/2024 11:46 PMThe Haddam-Killingworth softball team yet again endured a duo of deep playoff runs in its league and state tournament brackets last May and June. With a vast majority of the cast returning for action this spring, the Cougars are ready to revise the script and create a climax and conclusion that entails the players studded in championship gold.
Last spring, the Cougars finished as the Shoreline Conference Tournament runners-up following a 10-3 loss to North Branford in the bracket final. Then, H-K played in the Class M State Tournament as the No. 13 seed. In the first round on May 30, the Cougars defeated No. 20 Rocky Hill by a score of 9-1. The next day in the second round, they took on 29th-seeded East Hampton and won a 12-0 contest. The Cougars advanced to the quarterfinal round on June 3, where they fell to No. 5 Mercy by a score of 2-0 to finish 19-7 overall.
While still chasing those elusive conference and state crowns, the Cougars have certainly established a winning pedigree as one of the more respected programs in the state. Head Coach Jeff Talbott boasted about the very successful track record of his senior class, and H-K looks to use that experience to help take them to the next level.
“Our eight seniors have a 54-15 record since they started in freshman year,” said Talbott. “We want to continue to play winning softball in our league and state tournaments.”
Heading off that decorated class of final-year players for H-K are a trio of captains in Ivy McNiel at first base, Annabelle Zajac in left field, and Bella Richwine as a third baseman and pitcher. While each girl has been a four-year varsity letter earner, McNiel and Zajac were a tandem of Second Team All-Shoreline selections in 2023.
Another senior stalwart will be 2023 Shoreline Conference Honorable Mention Cheyenne LaTouche, who will be patrolling the outfield in center this spring prior to playing for Southern Connecticut State University next year.
A further benefactor for the Cougars will be the fact that all of their starters from last season return, which include sophomore Grace Natanzon at catcher, seniors Keira Czarkowski at second base, captains Richwine at the hot corner, NcNiel at first, Zajac as a left fielder, junior Hannah Reilly opposite her in right, and senior Bella LaTorre as a designated player and infield understudy, “with several good subs ready to fill in from the bench,” remarked Talbott.
H-K is hungry for revenge like the true competitor it is, and so the girls have rematches with eight-time reigning conference champion North Branford circled prominently on the Cougars’ calendar, in addition to duels with Old Lyme, Hale-Ray, and Coginchaug.
The Cougars (5-0 on the year) certainly heated up the bats quite quickly in their opening pair of contests, whalloping opponents Old Saybrook-Westbrook and Cromwell by a combined 33-1. They then continued the rout trend when they blanked Morgan 15-0 on April 5, and then repeated that exact same one-sided score versus Valley Regional on April 8 and East Hampton two days later.
Yet it will be H-K’s work inside the circle that will prove to be pivotal when it comes to gauging their postseason prospects as the story of the season begins to unfold. Still, with that being a big determining factor, the Cougars certainly like their chances with their arms and the leather to back them up.
“North Branford, Old Lyme, Hale-Ray, and Coginchaug are all important games and teams that have good pitching,” said Talbott. “Only Kaleigh Bodak, who was a two-time All-State Team selection as a pitcher, graduated. She is being replaced by sophomore Emma Giaccone, who has done very well in the first two games of the season. Pitching is so important in high school softball, and we just feel with an experienced team behind her defensively, that we will do well this season.”
The 2024 Haddam-Killingworth softball team’s roster is comprised of seniors Richwine, Zajac, Ava Harriman, LaTouche, Anabelle LaTorre, McNiel, Nicolette Hines, Czarkowski,; juniors Caley Napoletano, Reilly, Grace LaConte, Claire Eighmy; plus sophomores Grace Natanzon, Giaccone, Alana Gaines, and Olivia LaTorre.
Talbott has now been at the helm for H-K for 25 years. He is assisted again this spring by a pair of five-year veterans in Kate Mayer and Carlye Kohs.
2024 Haddam-Killingworth Softball Regular Season Schedule and Results
March 30: H-K 13, Old Saybrook-Westbrook 1
April 1: H-K 20, Cromwell 0
April 5: H-K 15, Morgan 0
April 8: H-K 15, Valley Regional 0
April 10: H-K 15, East Hampton 0
Monday, April 15: vs. Coginchaug at 3:45 p.m.
Tuesday, April 16: vs. Portland at 3:45 p.m.
Wednesday, April 17: vs. North Branford at 4 p.m.
Friday, April 19: at Coginchaug at 4 p.m.
Monday, April 22: vs. Old Lyme at 3:45 p.m.
Thursday, April 25: at Hale-Ray at 4 p.m.
Monday, April 29: vs. Cromwell at 3:45 p.m.
Wednesday, May 1: at North Branford at 4 p.m.
Thursday, May 2: at Morgan at 4 p.m.
Monday, May 6: vs. Valley Regional at 3:45 p.m.
Wednesday, May 8: vs. East Hampton at 3:45 p.m.
Friday, May 10: at Old Lyme at 4 p.m.
Monday, May 13: at Coventry at 4 p.m.
Wednesday, May 15: at East Lyme at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, May 17: vs. Hale-Ray at 3:45 p.m.