(L-R): Tabitha Elezi, Elizabeth Ozimek, Mia Sanseverino, Sabrina Lettera, Lauren Mellas, Caragh Dougherty, Erica Angilletta, Matea Murphy, & Ella Olafsson. Not pictured: Kara Braccio, Christina Sinatra, & Taylor Grace Yancy. Coaches: Cathy Dougherty, Chris Sinatra, & Greg Mellas. Credit: Contributed
Back Row (L-R): Madison Riascos, Ava Biasotti, Faith Hibbert, Hannah Moore, Claudia Stanley, Annie Gravereaux, Megan Ziegler.
Bottom Row (L-R): Unity Lee, Kendall Somma, Sophie Austin
Not Pictured: Players Emmi Freeman, Mia Konidaris. Coaches Rob Moore, Mike Hibbert & Robin Biasotti. Credit: Contributed
Olivia Takach, Charlotte heyn, Stella Hiejiens, ayn Brady (front), Lucia Biasotti, Nora mcdonough, Leyla Eich, Cecily Farris.
Not Pictured: Addison Leibowitz, Sophie Stamelman, Emma Stern, Emily Marciano, Sophia Mallozzi, Claire Hickey, Ayn Brady, Elly Glover
Coaches: Robin Biasotti & John Marciano. Credit: Contributed
Softball in New Canaan has been on an upswing in recent years with the sport seeing unprecedented success at all levels, from Kindergarten through the high school and beyond. Last week Molly and Rachel Keshin became the first softball players in NCHS history to sign a National Letter of Intent to play the sport at a Division-1 school.
Chances are, the Keshins won’t be the last New Canaan softball players to sign NLI’s as nowhere is the spike in softball’s popularity more evident than in the burgeoning youth program. New Canaan Softball saw a 60% increase in participation this past spring season which carried over to the fall season with a 78% increase from grades K-8.
The league’s success was not relegated to numbers alone, as several age groups took league titles.
The New Canaan Juniors (14U), sponsored by Swirl, ended a strong fall season by sweeping through Rowayton, Darien and Westport teams in division pool play to face an undefeated Stratford in the fall season championship game. New Canaan attacked in the first inning, eventually toppling a shell-shocked Stratford team 10-5.
With players new to softball and this division, the New Canaan Majors (12U) team played some hard-fought softball in each and every game. With seven games decided by one run and a few come-from-behind victories, this team showed resolve throughout this exciting regular season. Sponsored by Pennyweights Jewelry, the Majors girls finished with a winning 6-5-1 record.
Another team with a winning record in the regular season was the New Canaan Minors (10u) Red squad, sponsored by Cherrystreet East. New Canaan capped off a playoff run with a 17-6 post-season win over Rowayton, clinching the division championship.
The New Canaan Softball AAA (9U) team, sponsored by She La La, finished its fall season with an impressive 8-1 postseason win over Westport Red—a perfect end to an undefeated season.
New Canaan Softball’s AA (8U) program consisted of two teams, sponsored by Frangione Engineering and Darien Orthodontics. Working off the momentum of a strong Spring 2016 season, these fall players each held winning records and ended their season by hosting the first ever Great Pumpkin Smash Softball tournament at Waveny Park. Darien, Rowayton, Ridgefield and Orange, CT’s 8u teams joined in for the fun, which included a cross-town team-building piñata pumpkin smash.
The Rookies Division consisted of 17 first grade and Kindergarten girls who met every Saturday at Waveny Park for a clinic and scrimmage. Due to the enthusiasm of the players—as well as many parents new to the program—three games against other towns were added to the schedule.
