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Hi everyone, welcome to the Inside Corner Connecticut Softball Podcast with John Nash.
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I'm Rob Adams, and uh I'm excited to get going on this one.
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John, let's let's get it started.
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Well, we had a bye week last week.
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We kind of took a week off.
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Uh uh not for any reasons other than just things didn't line up correctly.
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It's so busy this time of year.
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Uh but this year we're being joined by the head coach of the uh Nanawog uh Chiefs and five of his captains, two seniors and three juniors.
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And once again, all the names have disappeared on me thanks to modern technology.
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But we have head coach Chris Martin.
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Uh we have seniors Elizabeth uh Boysitz and Nicole Decello, and we have juniors Marin Savaris, Jordan Kovac, and Scarlet Ivy.
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And uh Naniwog for uh a couple years now has been one of the stronger teams in the Berkshire League.
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And I've got to start, Rob, by telling a great Chris Martin story because I've known Chris for a lot of years through my own coaching days in travel.
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Uh, you know, he's one of the people that that's heavily involved with the uh rapid softball organization up in Watertown.
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And last year, Northwestern uh regional high school upset Nanawog for the uh Berkshire League Championship.
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And I'm sure all the girls' blood's boiling out about that right now.
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But you know, I wanted to follow up the championship with a with the uh phone call to the coach to do a story on Northwestern reaching, and I was like, well, who do I know up that way?
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Oh, you know, Chris is with the Rapids, he's up that way, he may know her.
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Not realizing that just hours before Chris had lost that game to Northwestern Regional, but he he's such a class act and such a good guy that he gave me the coach's number so that I could promote her team beating his team for the title.
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That's the kind of guy that is coaching these girls, and and he's he's just I personally think, you know, uh, and again, you know, we had a great talk yesterday up at the at the Seymour uh Wallcut NBL game, but but just you know, Chris is in it for all the right reasons, it seems, so I'm really, really glad to be able to kind of uh uh show a little love and shine a bright light up on the nonwag Chiefs because they certainly deserve it.
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So, Chris, thanks for joining us.
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Thank you very much.
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Uh um you know, one of the things that we did touch upon is you've built such a uh a strong program up there in the Berkshire League that that it's kind of hard for you guys to get the proper credit that you guys deserve.
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And uh do you do you sense that about the team that the uh and I don't want to say there's not a lot of respect because the you know the respect comes when you go to the state tournament and play some of the better teams, and you guys have really challenged this group this year with some strong non-conference games.
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But but do you feel you're overlooked a little bit because of the league you play in sometimes?
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Uh yeah.
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All all my entire coaching staff and all the girls, they they definitely feel uh slighted.
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Um, you know, they they've grinded since September, um, going 18 weeks of doing weightlifting uh three days a week, uh, putting in all the hard work.
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And um when it comes to the voting polls, there's no one in our area that's in that voting poll to even you know show the recognition.
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And um, you know, the Berkshire League is definitely um, you know, not as talented, smaller roster, smaller schools.
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So the challenge is definitely not out there when you're on, you know, the upper level of skill.
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So this year with our six out of league games, we definitely tried hammering that schedule a lot harder.
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Um, you know, immaculate, Danbury, St.
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Bernard, Bethel, Cheshire, which was a big one up at Yukon, which is a fun one, and then Notre Dame prepped to start off the year too.
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So definitely trying to um prepare us for the state tournament by playing those better teams and hoping we can get that big win and that big knockoff win to get that recognition.
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Um, we were kind of hoping that that three to nothing loss against Cheshire um would have definitely opened up some eyes a little bit more.
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Um, but yeah, we have something hanging out in the dugout from the uh preseason poll.
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And um, you know, uh we have a little saying up there in the wall and showing we're we're not existent with that.
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And um, you know, that's kind of a little motivation in the dugout for us for the girls to see every day.
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And how have you done it?
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Uh, how long have you been the head coach there?
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And what has it taken to build the program to the level that you're at right now?
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Um, well, this is my fifth year there.
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Um, I helped out at Watertown a little bit when my stepdaughter was there and played and so on from there.
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Um I mean, it was trying to take the level of play I've seen at the travel level and seeing the girls that I've coached, the fifth year or so that have gone on to play in college, and you know, picking their brains, picking their minds, seeing what they've done in the offseason to try them make themselves bigger, faster, stronger, and and to be at that top level and try to play at that elite softball level.
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So, you know, starting with the weight room and trying to trying to make them believe and build into the program and buy into things um is a big part of that.
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I mean, um, you know, we could have not done any of that stuff and and seen how far our talent had got got us there, but um, you know, losing a foreign last year is, you know, was an eye-opener too.
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You know, we had a really bad day.
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I mean, Abby Corse is a great, great pitcher, but how can we prepare ourselves better for something like that situation?
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So, you know, um when we have these kids coming to Nanawag, because we're Volex schools and people have to apply there, um, they see a different level of softball at the high school level from where how committed we are and and where we're gonna be trying to take this program to to the next level.
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And Elizabeth, let me jump over to you for a minute.
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Uh when you guys you know walked off the field after that loss to to Northwestern Regional, how devastating was it for you guys as a team not to win that league title?
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And did that really, you know, you talk you heard Coach talk about you know hitting the weight room and and doing so many things to make you guys you know better athletically and physically.
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Uh did it was a lot of that fueled by that loss at all?
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Or or did you guys quickly just put it in the past and and time to move on and attack what's next, what's next?
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I would say a little bit of both.
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It definitely stung walking off the field that day.
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Um, but I feel like as a team we used it as motivation, um, knowing that we never wanted that to happen again and we needed to be better and we needed to work better together.
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And we just used it to like put fuel to our fire and just keep going.
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And and Nicole, did the whole team kind of buy in at that point, or did you guys as captains really kind of have to uh you know uh put put your foot down, I guess, put your cleats down, so to speak, and you know, to get the whole team to buy in.
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What was that experience like?
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No, it was good.
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I feel like overall, as a team, we really like all together used it as like a bonding experience and pushed ourselves and each other to go forward.
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So it wasn't like you know, we were putting our cleats down and you know, yelling at everyone.
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Everyone does truly care about the loss, and we all kind of like use that going into like the weight room in the fall.
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And then obviously the season.
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Yeah, for sure.
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Yeah, and and Chris, let's talk about this year's team.
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Uh, you know, 18 and 2, as we said, you got the Berkshire League tournament coming up, uh to be followed by the the state tournament.
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Um sitting 18 and two is is that where you'd hope to be uh at that point, at this point, or kind of what was your take coming in uh for the season this year?
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Um, I mean, with with the talented teams and the out of league schedule that we had, um, we kind of feel like we are exactly where we're gonna be.
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Um, you know, challenged in, you know, Chester being the number one team in the state.
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Um, you know, Notre Dame is a scrappy team, had a lot of good transfers come in there.
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Um, you know, Navarro's a very good pitcher down there.
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Um Coach Phil, his first year there is doing a great job.
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Um, but seeing that that different style of play and the competitiveness, um, I believe we we are exactly where we feel we could have been.
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Um you know, that was definitely um where we wanted to be.
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Um now things got shaken up a little bit last week with the Nogatuk Seymour game and Nogatuk upsetting Seymour.
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I mean, Nogatuk has, you know, Carly Lucino, very good pitcher over there, and they came in and played.
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That that shook up the bracket quite a bit and on how we were seeing things.
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Um Class M is very, very stacked.
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You know, you have your Woodlands, your Seymour's, Sheehan sitting down there in the 16 spot right now, um, foreign, which is, you know, very, very good as well.
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Um, class M is very, very dangerous, you know, one through 19.
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Um, you know, we're we're really looking forward to seeing where we match up and and any round, anybody can win.
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Yeah, I'm looking at the Class M standings as we speak.
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And of course, you know, Nanawag is is number one in Class M right now.
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Um, they have not released the the final state tournament brackets yet, but you think the quarterfinals could be a foreign Seymour matchup, which could be a state championship final, you know?
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There are just a ton of good teams in Class M.
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And let me let me jump to Jordan.
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Uh Jordan, I I you know, you still gotta get through the the Berkshire League tournament, but I are you guys looking forward to the state tournament too, and really challenging yourself against the strong Class M grouping?
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Yeah, we're definitely looking forward to the state tournament.
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Um, we're we want revenge on four, and we want revenge going into the semifinals, hoping to get to the finals at UConn again.
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I know we all talk about them, but we're just gonna go one game at a time.
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And Maren, anything you want to add about that as well?
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And just in terms of, you know, I I heard the word revenge.
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Has that been talked about, you know, a little bit this year?
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That that, you know, any team that we come to that that maybe beat us in in our career, we want to get them this year?
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Um, yeah, I definitely feel like we can definitely do better against different teams, and it's gonna be better uh challenging ourselves more with teams that might be harder.
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And and Scarlett, you're the you're the pitcher for this team.
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You're you're starting uh pretty much every play.
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Uh what's it like to to be the the you know in the circle with this group with the defense behind you?
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And uh what are your hopes and goals for for what's left of the season?
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Um it's great to be behind like just like be fronting this team really like the defense, we just like have gelled together so well this season.
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Um like I feeling like I'm feeling a lot more confident like this year.
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Like obviously we did good last year, like phenomenal, phenomenal year for us.
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Um but at least like defensively this year and like going to the gym and everything, like that helped a lot.
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Um, but we just have gelled together more as a team this year.
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Um so I think that's like one of the main reasons why hopefully we get like to where we want to go and like eventually end up at UConn.
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And and Chris, let's talk about the team this year.
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You know, you got Scarlett in the circle.
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Last week she was our uh Union 12 design pitcher of the week.
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Uh Scarlett, you have a t-shirt coming to you.
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Coach has that.
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I gave it to him yesterday.
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So uh uh enjoy that and congratulations.
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But how good is this kid for you?
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And and you know, what does she bring to the team?
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And and you know, answer that, and then we'll go around to the the rest of the field and talk about the plays you have elsewhere.
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Yeah, I think Scarlett has started to learn and develop that, you know, she throws a bunch of different pitches.
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Um, I mean, she's going from throwing upper 50s with her fastball curveball to dropping a change up at 33 miles per hour, and it's pretty consistent.
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Um, but she's learned to, you know, um, Tom Glavin, Greg Maddox style, you know, not try to strike everybody out, but try to throw pitches for the batters to miss hit the ball.
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Um her defense behind her this year has been outstanding.
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I think we have 18 errors on the season.
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I think we went six or seven games in a row without an error.
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Um, fundamentally, behind her right now, the defense has been outstanding.
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Um, we brought in um a few assistant coaches this year.
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Um, Coach Ryan Batts, uh, he's from the new Fairfield area.
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He works with our catchers, very, very sound guy with our catchers.
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And um Coach Nate Wilda, um, who was the old Bethel coach.
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He also coaches with the Connecticut Impact program, has done a phenomenal job with our outfielders and preparing them.
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Um, I mean, we moved uh Marin over to left field.
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Um, her cousin, who's a freshman, Gia Severice, is sitting in center field, and Gia right now covers 80% of the outfield.
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Um it's just phenomenal.
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We've had um a couple outfielders in right field with tremendous arms.
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Um and having that support behind you um as a pitcher, um, it has to have just a comfort and relief knowing that I could have confidence throwing this certain pitch that my defense behind me is gonna make that play or turn that double play.
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Um, you know, we've done a very good job of throwing behind runners this year, picking runners off, um, you know, like I said, turning double plays.
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It's been it's been very fun to watch.
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Um if if you get a chance to see just our pregame warm-up is something that coaches and college coaches talk about um nonstop, about the movement and where everybody is, the hand-eye coordination, and how everybody's doing something in our pregame warm-up.
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Um, it's definitely something to prepare, and and these girls have solidified that defense behind Scarlet.
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You realize though that come practice on Monday, you're gonna have to explain to them who Tom Glavin and Greg Greg Maddox are, right?
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Yeah, exactly.
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I that there's no video on this, so so I can't I couldn't see the girls' reaction, but I could you could just imagine them looking at each other going, who are the who's who's that who are they?
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Yeah.
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So uh but um who's behind the plate for you?
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Who who's catching all of Scarlet's uh uh so so so this year has been Ashlyn Blum.
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She's um you know, she had knee surgery last year, and she opted to have the surgery at the after the end of her high school season, which she missed a lot of travel ball.
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Um she plays for the Rapids program as well.
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Um so Ashlyn actually had to move to second base last year um just to save her knee a little bit.
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And Lila Farelli had stepped up behind the plate last year.
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Now Ashland's come back into that role, and coincidentally, uh Lila's going to second base for us.
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Um but Ashland's been solid back there.
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Um there's been times I could say, hey, Ash, you're calling you're calling the pitches right now.
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Um and we're comfortable with that, you know, with her and Scarlet being on the same page.
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And and around the infield, who do you have?
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Um Gianni DiLorenzo playing third, Jordan playing uh shortstop, Lila Frelliot second, and uh Liz Elizabeth uh playing first base.
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And I think you did cover the outfield, right?
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I think we got all three spots there.
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I just want to make sure that every kid gets mentioned, you know, that deserves it.
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Yeah, we have uh Marin in left field, her cousin Gia in center.
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Um we had another um senior there in right field for a little while, and now um a freshman Riley Abbed has stepped up and played right field for us, which is a tremendous athlete um for us and a blessing to have as another freshman coming in and be able to step up.
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And girls, uh you know, be being under the radar, and uh, you know, let's let's go with Nicole on this one.
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We'll go back with the seniors.
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Uh being under the radar on a statewide level, uh, does it bother you guys that much, or is that coach's ego talking that you know he wants to be in that poll?
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Or kind of what take do you guys have on that?
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I feel like it's a little bit of both.
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Like, yes, it does feel amazing when like we beat like a good team.
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They kind of see like, whoa, like this little you know, Calpope place and Woodbury, you know, just beat like this really good team.
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But at the same point, there are like moments where we would obviously rather have our like name be a little bit more, you know, learned, but I guess that's kind of like our job.
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Our job is to kind of go out there and you know say, hey, you know, don't kind of you know ignore us.
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And uh coach, this year's team compared to last year's team.
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Are you better?
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Um more experienced.
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I mean, nobody graduated from last year's team.
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So that's right too.
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Yeah, you were senior list last year.
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I do remember that.
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Yeah, um, that's where um, you know, um Liz and another girl we had were captains last year, rolled into that this year.
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That's where um I made that decision about a week and a half ago, maybe two weeks ago, I I stepped up and took these uh three juniors on as captains to start learning the role um from the seniors um to be those, those, that middle break between the coaches and the players.
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Um again, learn the role as captainship because they've they've earned that respect um at the level that they've been playing um in their high school career to step up.
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That's why we have five of them.
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Um I just feel you know that the experience is just so we're better to answer that question.
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Um just the experience um playing in those games, getting to the semifinals, you know, playing against foreign, um has definitely helped out um from where we were before.
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And and you guys beat a really, really good Danbury team, you know, that's playing in the FCAC semifinals on Tuesday.
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So, so right then and there, you know, I'm assuming that you guys, I mean, that was your first statement game.
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Well, I guess Notre Dame Prep uh you'd uh you'd lost to, right?
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That was your season opener.
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Yeah, that was.
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Um Jordan was out too um coming off an injury from from preseason and stuff like that.
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So we mixed things around.
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Um we did have a very strong um preseason schedule.
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Um we had six scrimmages to start off the year, one Jamboree.
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Um, you know, we had the Massachusetts, uh St.
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Paul's, and we did very well against those teams.
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You know, we definitely held our own both close games.
00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:16.559
You know, I think we were on the top side of both of them for the varsity part of the scrimmages.
00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:23.279
Um and, you know, coming to see Notre Dame, um, you know, we had people out of position still a little bit.
00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:26.400
Um, I think there were two earned runs in that game.
00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:33.359
Um, but um, I mean, it was it was nice to come in playing somebody strong, definitely from the start.
00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:35.920
Um, because you never know how the other team's gonna be as well.
00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:42.559
I mean, if you come in and beat a team, you know, at that caliber level, you're gonna, you know, get that respect early in the season, too.
00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:47.680
Um so that that's where we went with having them early in the year.
00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:52.799
And the day before my birthday, and Elizabeth, I'm directing this question to you.
00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:59.759
Um, you guys, you know, went up to Yukon, played Cheshire, uh tight, 3-0 win, you know, Jenica Matos.
00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:05.680
I mean, what she's done this year, she's having a season uh for the for the record books, it seems.
00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:19.920
I don't I don't know if she's given up an earned run, but as you guys walked off the field that day, playing them so well, was it a good feeling or or did you feel like you you guys had missed a little bit of of an opportunity to really make a statement?
00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:23.759
No, we all felt amazing walking off that field.
00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:35.279
I mean, let alone from the fact that we played a really great game against a really great team, we just had so much fun, like being up at UConn, being on the beautiful field that they have and things like that.
00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:39.759
And we knew that we played our absolute best and gave it our all.
00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:43.680
So I none of us were mad or upset or anything.
00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:51.759
Like, we did our absolute best, and I still believe that we got some recognition from that game, um, win or lose.
00:19:51.920 --> 00:20:01.279
Like, we still got what we deserved, I believe, by like people now realizing that they should have to watch out for us and we can be a threat in the league.
00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:04.880
Now, I'm actually looking at the box score as we speak.
00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:07.759
Okay, you guys were yeah, one hit by by her.
00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:09.680
Uh Elizabeth, you had the hit.
00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:13.759
What's it like to face a pitcher of uh Jenica's status?
00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:30.960
Um, and I'm being honest, it's it was a little intimidating because I just I knew I wanted to hit the ball and everything, so I was trying to overcompensate, but once you kind of loosen up and you just do what you know how to do, I feel like that helped me out a lot, not stressing out at the plate.
00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:34.319
Um, but like once the ball left the bat, I mean it was a great feeling.
00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:40.960
And then getting to first and realizing, like, all right, here we are, like I'm on first now, like let's make this happen for the team.
00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:47.519
And and Jordan, you were hitting the leadoff that game, and I don't know if you remember your first at bat against her.
00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:50.400
Uh, but you know, do you remember what you were saying?
00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:54.079
Uh okay, strikeout looking happens to the best of us.
00:20:54.400 --> 00:21:03.200
Um what do you what did you say to your teammates as you, you know, usually you have that little pow-wow, you know, with the on-deck hitter, and then you walk into the dugout.
00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:06.799
You know, what what what was your advice at that point?
00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:10.640
Yeah, so I had a great first um at bat against Jenica.
00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:13.200
I won in, I think, seven pitches.
00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:14.480
I fouled off a lot.
00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:19.279
Um fortunately got caught looking on her changeup, which is an insane pitch that she has.
00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:24.079
Um, so after that at bat, I kind of looked at Scarlett and I told her to have fun.
00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:25.599
I went up there and had fun.
00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:28.400
Um, you can't really think too much against a pitcher like Jenica.
00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:33.200
You just gotta go up and you know do what you know how to do, and you can't doubt yourself.
00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:37.920
No, and then you got and she walked six that day, so obviously it's midseason.
00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:43.119
You know, she wasn't totally on her game, but yeah, just the fact that you know, three one run innings.
00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:59.599
Uh so so Scarlet, you know, facing a lineup like that, I mean, only two earned runs, sounds like you got you guys fully as a team just you know, played your hearts out and played really, really well against the team that has been the number one team in the state, at least in the uh Connecticut.
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.200
Softball blog poll.
00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:03.440
The players have gotten that right all year, right, Jordan?
00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:07.759
What was it like facing that lineup, Scarlet?
00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:15.359
I mean, it was intimidating, I'm not gonna lie, because they just have so much, like I mean, they're the number one team in the state.
00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:24.240
Like we knew that walking in, but like we were just having fun, like we were cracking jokes between innings, just like anything to stay loose, like like we had nothing to lose from that game.
00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:27.359
Like just go like just go play your hearts out, and like that's it.
00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:32.799
Like I did my best to make sure they couldn't they miss hit a lot of things.
00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:36.000
Um and like no pitches off is really what it was.
00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:42.720
Like I just had to be like dialed like all the time, but I had to just play loose and just have fun with it.
00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:54.960
Yeah, and and coach, you know, you got back into league play after that, and you know you started rolling big wins 15-2, 13-0, 18-4, 13-1, 16-1.
00:22:55.440 --> 00:23:01.680
Uh how do you keep a team focused when you you know step back into your league?
00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:10.480
Which, like you said, is is uh it's you guys and and some other teams that are trying to become what you guys have become.
00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:19.599
Is it is that a difficult thing for for to do with uh you know teenage girls to keep them focused when when you're playing teams that you should be beating by scores you're beating them by?
00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:25.519
Well, I mean, the the one thing that we have strong with our 16 girls is the team camaraderie.
00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:35.200
So I think we've had four seven-inning games out of um, we had two forfeit wins with one of our um teams in our league um folding.
00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:40.160
So out of our 18 games, I think there was only four of them that went seven innings for us.
00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:49.599
Um, but the camaraderie and the and the sisterhood and the bond that these girls have, um, most of our starters are only playing three innings.
00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:57.440
So the girls coming off the bench and getting their opportunities is, you know, those starters now become the supporters for them.
00:23:57.759 --> 00:24:05.359
So nobody's sitting down after after coming out of the game and and just going to ice up and they're done for the day.
00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:09.279
They all know that they have a job now to be supportive for for their teammates.
00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:27.359
And and that's something that, you know, doing team bonding stuff off to the side, whether we go bowling together or we do a study hall in the classroom and we work together on projects, um, you know, that that all those little things on the outside help that focus while you're on the field or in the dog out together, too.
00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:45.519
You know, so the support between each other, um, you know, the cheering, the picking each other up, the um advice and talking in between plays and saying, you know, watch how this runner's doing this, watch how the pitcher's tipping this, look at the batter with their hands dropping down, you know, things like that, and how the defense might be moving.
00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:51.519
These girls have have uh you know a higher IQ for softball than I've seen from most teams.
00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:54.960
Um, and and they're all sponges, which is amazing.
00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:58.240
By the way, who's the team who's the team bowler?
00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:58.960
I I have to know.
00:24:59.119 --> 00:25:00.720
Who's the high bowler there?
00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:04.240
Um it was a freshman this year.
00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:06.880
Um, I believe it was Mia Mendez.
00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:08.640
Um she came out of nowhere.
00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:10.480
I can't remember what her last game was.
00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:14.480
It was like a 170 or something crazy out of nowhere.
00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:16.160
Quiet little girl, too.
00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:17.839
You know, it's like out of nowhere.
00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:19.039
I love that.
00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:24.160
It would have been Scarlett, but the catcher kept blocking the ball every time that she threw it.
00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:24.720
So, you know.
00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:27.759
I'll tell you right now, Jordan was right there too, though.
00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:29.519
Jordan was pretty consistent as well.
00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:34.000
She was uh she was out there throwing a lot of strikes and marks in the boxes.
00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:37.279
Yeah, I was gonna say, Scarlett, were you disappointed that you didn't win?
00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:40.400
Because you should have that underhand motion perfected by now.
00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:44.480
I mean, I never claimed to be good at bowling, so I can't say.
00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.559
Is that something?
00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:51.359
I mean, do you guys do a lot of that team bonding stuff though, Scarlett?
00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:54.400
I mean, is that something that makes you know this team special?
00:25:55.119 --> 00:26:01.599
Yeah, like I know there's like clicks on every team, but this one, like, we're pretty like all of us are friends.
00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:09.759
Um, like all the team bonding has definitely helped us like gel as a team this year, and like all of those team bonding, like everyone's friends.
00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:12.000
It's just like it's really fun to be a part of.
00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:14.880
Winning's fun too, John.
00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:17.599
Oh, very, very much so.
00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:19.200
Uh uh, yeah.
00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:30.079
Um I'm from I'm from Maine, which is candle pin bowling, and and you guys will have to Google that after you get after they get done looking up who Tom uh Tom Glavin and Greg Maddox are.
00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:36.880
Uh but yeah, I I didn't uh use the big balls as we call them until uh you know the balls with a hole in them until I moved down here.
00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:43.119
So and I've only been a couple times, but uh I I could see a team definitely having fun doing that type of thing, that's for sure.
00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:45.839
So uh Maren, let me ask you this.
00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:54.240
Uh do you guys do a lot of uh you know live pitching against Scarlet and and what makes her so tough, you know, from a hitter's point of view?
00:26:55.599 --> 00:27:14.400
Um we don't do much like live hitting off of her, but um like I feel like she has lots of like she has a lot of pitches, but she can also change her speed like very well, which can be like hard to read like as the pitch is coming in.
00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:18.880
Especially with that changeup that that uh coach was mentioning, right?
00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:21.359
I mean, is that probably her nastiest pitch?
00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:23.119
Probably, yeah.
00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:28.559
Coach, thoughts you know, just final thoughts.
00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:30.160
You know, we only have a few minutes left here.
00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:34.720
Final thoughts as you head into the the Berkshire League tournament, which starts what, Thursday, I believe?
00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:40.559
Uh for us it's it's uh uh semifinals is Tuesday, and then Wednesday is the finals um with the higher seeds.
00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:44.799
No, I mean I appreciate you guys doing this and doing this for the softball community and so on from there.
00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:48.480
Um, you know, our our our goal is obviously to get to Yukon.
00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:54.799
Um that was our goal this year for the finals, but this team never looks over the next game.
00:27:54.880 --> 00:28:02.799
So our our focus is on Tuesday against Lakeview, which could be a sneaky team in that league, and just try and stay focused one pitch at a time.
00:28:04.640 --> 00:28:07.839
And Jordan, I'm gonna give you the last question.
00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:13.599
Uh as of right now, you act you guys are number one in the CIAC class M standings.
00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:16.240
You know, hopefully when the brackets come out, you'll still be there.
00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:18.240
Does that add pressure to you?
00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:24.720
Or do you feel that it's just a reward, you know, because you gotta beat everybody that's gonna be in front of you anyway to get to UConn.
00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:29.440
So is is that just kind of a reward for the great season that you guys did have?
00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:34.720
Um personally, being number one isn't anything for us, I don't think.
00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:40.640
I think other people look at it because we're in the Berkshire League that, oh, they play like these teams, so they're there.
00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:43.039
They don't really play the known name teams.
00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:45.599
Um, but for us, we just do one game at a time.
00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:50.960
We don't care like if you're a Cheshire or a Foreign or a Massick or we play like a Shein or something like that.
00:28:51.119 --> 00:28:52.880
We're gonna take it one pitch at a time.
00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:55.519
We don't care what your record is, we don't care where you're from or whatever.
00:28:55.599 --> 00:29:00.640
We play the way we know how to play, and the score is gonna be the score at the end of the game.
00:29:01.359 --> 00:29:02.319
That's a great answer.
00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:05.359
That's what that's what I like, is they know how good they're.
00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:08.160
So if people want to overlook them, let them overlook them.
00:29:08.400 --> 00:29:10.559
They still gotta play the game between the baselines.
00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:12.079
Fantastic answer.
00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:19.039
That's uh John, that's that's the way to do it, and uh wish uh wish this team a lot of good fortune moving forward.
00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:20.400
It's a good group.
00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:22.400
Oh, yeah, no, a hundred percent.
00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:39.359
And like I said, you know, I've I got to know Elizabeth uh a little over a year ago when she committed to playing college, and and and like I said, Jordan's been one of the voters in the uh Connecticut Softball blog's top ten players poll all season, and uh they've all done an amazing job, and I'm just so proud of all of them.
00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:42.880
So um and it was great, you know, getting to meet uh Scarlett.
00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:46.720
I've known her name since I've started the blog because that's how good she's been for that long.
00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:52.319
And and and Maren and Nicole, great getting to talk to you guys, and we wish you the best of luck this postseason.
00:29:52.400 --> 00:30:01.200
And uh who knows, maybe you know, if we invite all the state champs back to the podcast again, maybe we'll be having an even better conversation somewhere down the line.
00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:03.200
But gotta play the games first.
00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:04.160
Yeah.
00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:05.519
Thank you guys very much.
00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:06.480
Appreciate it.
00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:07.759
It it's been our pleasure.
00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:08.720
It's been our pleasure.
00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:09.680
Absolutely true.
00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:10.640
John, you good?
00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:11.759
Should we wrap up?
00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:12.880
Let's wrap up.
00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:14.559
Let's do it again next week.
00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:24.240
We will have another group on to talk with us, but that'll do it for this edition of the Inside Corner Connecticut Softball Podcast for John Nash and our guests from Nanawog.
00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:25.359
I'm Rob Adams.
00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:26.799
We'll talk to you next time.
00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:14.160
Hi everyone, welcome to the Inside Corner Connecticut Softball Podcast with John Nash.
00:00:14.240 --> 00:00:18.480
I'm Rob Adams, and uh I'm excited to get going on this one.
00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:20.800
John, let's let's get it started.
00:00:21.359 --> 00:00:23.039
Well, we had a bye week last week.
00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:24.879
We kind of took a week off.
00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:29.120
Uh uh not for any reasons other than just things didn't line up correctly.
00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:30.879
It's so busy this time of year.
00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:41.039
Uh but this year we're being joined by the head coach of the uh Nanawog uh Chiefs and five of his captains, two seniors and three juniors.
00:00:41.280 --> 00:00:44.960
And once again, all the names have disappeared on me thanks to modern technology.
00:00:45.039 --> 00:00:47.200
But we have head coach Chris Martin.
00:00:47.359 --> 00:00:58.960
Uh we have seniors Elizabeth uh Boysitz and Nicole Decello, and we have juniors Marin Savaris, Jordan Kovac, and Scarlet Ivy.
00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:06.079
And uh Naniwog for uh a couple years now has been one of the stronger teams in the Berkshire League.
00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:14.159
And I've got to start, Rob, by telling a great Chris Martin story because I've known Chris for a lot of years through my own coaching days in travel.
00:01:14.319 --> 00:01:20.959
Uh, you know, he's one of the people that that's heavily involved with the uh rapid softball organization up in Watertown.
00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:29.680
And last year, Northwestern uh regional high school upset Nanawog for the uh Berkshire League Championship.
00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:33.040
And I'm sure all the girls' blood's boiling out about that right now.
00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:42.879
But you know, I wanted to follow up the championship with a with the uh phone call to the coach to do a story on Northwestern reaching, and I was like, well, who do I know up that way?
00:01:43.040 --> 00:01:46.640
Oh, you know, Chris is with the Rapids, he's up that way, he may know her.
00:01:46.959 --> 00:02:03.439
Not realizing that just hours before Chris had lost that game to Northwestern Regional, but he he's such a class act and such a good guy that he gave me the coach's number so that I could promote her team beating his team for the title.
00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:27.039
That's the kind of guy that is coaching these girls, and and he's he's just I personally think, you know, uh, and again, you know, we had a great talk yesterday up at the at the Seymour uh Wallcut NBL game, but but just you know, Chris is in it for all the right reasons, it seems, so I'm really, really glad to be able to kind of uh uh show a little love and shine a bright light up on the nonwag Chiefs because they certainly deserve it.
00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:28.719
So, Chris, thanks for joining us.
00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:30.159
Thank you very much.
00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:43.280
Uh um you know, one of the things that we did touch upon is you've built such a uh a strong program up there in the Berkshire League that that it's kind of hard for you guys to get the proper credit that you guys deserve.
00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:56.879
And uh do you do you sense that about the team that the uh and I don't want to say there's not a lot of respect because the you know the respect comes when you go to the state tournament and play some of the better teams, and you guys have really challenged this group this year with some strong non-conference games.
00:02:57.039 --> 00:03:01.360
But but do you feel you're overlooked a little bit because of the league you play in sometimes?
00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:02.319
Uh yeah.
00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:08.000
All all my entire coaching staff and all the girls, they they definitely feel uh slighted.
00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:18.000
Um, you know, they they've grinded since September, um, going 18 weeks of doing weightlifting uh three days a week, uh, putting in all the hard work.
00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:24.800
And um when it comes to the voting polls, there's no one in our area that's in that voting poll to even you know show the recognition.
00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:32.080
And um, you know, the Berkshire League is definitely um, you know, not as talented, smaller roster, smaller schools.
00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:38.080
So the challenge is definitely not out there when you're on, you know, the upper level of skill.
00:03:38.240 --> 00:03:43.520
So this year with our six out of league games, we definitely tried hammering that schedule a lot harder.
00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:46.159
Um, you know, immaculate, Danbury, St.
00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:53.199
Bernard, Bethel, Cheshire, which was a big one up at Yukon, which is a fun one, and then Notre Dame prepped to start off the year too.
00:03:53.360 --> 00:04:02.400
So definitely trying to um prepare us for the state tournament by playing those better teams and hoping we can get that big win and that big knockoff win to get that recognition.
00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:08.639
Um, we were kind of hoping that that three to nothing loss against Cheshire um would have definitely opened up some eyes a little bit more.
00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:14.000
Um, but yeah, we have something hanging out in the dugout from the uh preseason poll.
00:04:14.080 --> 00:04:19.680
And um, you know, uh we have a little saying up there in the wall and showing we're we're not existent with that.
00:04:19.759 --> 00:04:24.800
And um, you know, that's kind of a little motivation in the dugout for us for the girls to see every day.
00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:27.120
And how have you done it?
00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:28.879
Uh, how long have you been the head coach there?
00:04:28.959 --> 00:04:33.519
And what has it taken to build the program to the level that you're at right now?
00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:35.439
Um, well, this is my fifth year there.
00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:40.079
Um, I helped out at Watertown a little bit when my stepdaughter was there and played and so on from there.
00:04:40.319 --> 00:05:02.560
Um I mean, it was trying to take the level of play I've seen at the travel level and seeing the girls that I've coached, the fifth year or so that have gone on to play in college, and you know, picking their brains, picking their minds, seeing what they've done in the offseason to try them make themselves bigger, faster, stronger, and and to be at that top level and try to play at that elite softball level.
00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:10.800
So, you know, starting with the weight room and trying to trying to make them believe and build into the program and buy into things um is a big part of that.
00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:23.199
I mean, um, you know, we could have not done any of that stuff and and seen how far our talent had got got us there, but um, you know, losing a foreign last year is, you know, was an eye-opener too.
00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:24.399
You know, we had a really bad day.
00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:30.560
I mean, Abby Corse is a great, great pitcher, but how can we prepare ourselves better for something like that situation?
00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:47.680
So, you know, um when we have these kids coming to Nanawag, because we're Volex schools and people have to apply there, um, they see a different level of softball at the high school level from where how committed we are and and where we're gonna be trying to take this program to to the next level.
00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:52.079
And Elizabeth, let me jump over to you for a minute.
00:05:52.240 --> 00:06:01.360
Uh when you guys you know walked off the field after that loss to to Northwestern Regional, how devastating was it for you guys as a team not to win that league title?
00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:11.519
And did that really, you know, you talk you heard Coach talk about you know hitting the weight room and and doing so many things to make you guys you know better athletically and physically.
00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:14.720
Uh did it was a lot of that fueled by that loss at all?
00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:21.199
Or or did you guys quickly just put it in the past and and time to move on and attack what's next, what's next?
00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:22.800
I would say a little bit of both.
00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:26.079
It definitely stung walking off the field that day.
00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:35.439
Um, but I feel like as a team we used it as motivation, um, knowing that we never wanted that to happen again and we needed to be better and we needed to work better together.
00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:40.480
And we just used it to like put fuel to our fire and just keep going.
00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:56.800
And and Nicole, did the whole team kind of buy in at that point, or did you guys as captains really kind of have to uh you know uh put put your foot down, I guess, put your cleats down, so to speak, and you know, to get the whole team to buy in.
00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:58.480
What was that experience like?
00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:00.079
No, it was good.
00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:07.839
I feel like overall, as a team, we really like all together used it as like a bonding experience and pushed ourselves and each other to go forward.
00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:12.399
So it wasn't like you know, we were putting our cleats down and you know, yelling at everyone.
00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:19.439
Everyone does truly care about the loss, and we all kind of like use that going into like the weight room in the fall.
00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:22.240
And then obviously the season.
00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:23.680
Yeah, for sure.
00:07:23.839 --> 00:07:26.319
Yeah, and and Chris, let's talk about this year's team.
00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:34.000
Uh, you know, 18 and 2, as we said, you got the Berkshire League tournament coming up, uh to be followed by the the state tournament.
00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:44.560
Um sitting 18 and two is is that where you'd hope to be uh at that point, at this point, or kind of what was your take coming in uh for the season this year?
00:07:44.879 --> 00:07:53.199
Um, I mean, with with the talented teams and the out of league schedule that we had, um, we kind of feel like we are exactly where we're gonna be.
00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:57.120
Um, you know, challenged in, you know, Chester being the number one team in the state.
00:07:57.360 --> 00:08:01.600
Um, you know, Notre Dame is a scrappy team, had a lot of good transfers come in there.
00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:05.680
Um, you know, Navarro's a very good pitcher down there.
00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:09.040
Um Coach Phil, his first year there is doing a great job.
00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:18.079
Um, but seeing that that different style of play and the competitiveness, um, I believe we we are exactly where we feel we could have been.
00:08:18.399 --> 00:08:23.120
Um you know, that was definitely um where we wanted to be.
00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:29.360
Um now things got shaken up a little bit last week with the Nogatuk Seymour game and Nogatuk upsetting Seymour.
00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:34.320
I mean, Nogatuk has, you know, Carly Lucino, very good pitcher over there, and they came in and played.
00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:38.480
That that shook up the bracket quite a bit and on how we were seeing things.
00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:41.039
Um Class M is very, very stacked.
00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:49.200
You know, you have your Woodlands, your Seymour's, Sheehan sitting down there in the 16 spot right now, um, foreign, which is, you know, very, very good as well.
00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:54.000
Um, class M is very, very dangerous, you know, one through 19.
00:08:54.240 --> 00:09:01.360
Um, you know, we're we're really looking forward to seeing where we match up and and any round, anybody can win.
00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:04.960
Yeah, I'm looking at the Class M standings as we speak.
00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:08.480
And of course, you know, Nanawag is is number one in Class M right now.
00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:18.080
Um, they have not released the the final state tournament brackets yet, but you think the quarterfinals could be a foreign Seymour matchup, which could be a state championship final, you know?
00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:20.720
There are just a ton of good teams in Class M.
00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:22.879
And let me let me jump to Jordan.
00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:34.720
Uh Jordan, I I you know, you still gotta get through the the Berkshire League tournament, but I are you guys looking forward to the state tournament too, and really challenging yourself against the strong Class M grouping?
00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:37.840
Yeah, we're definitely looking forward to the state tournament.
00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:46.000
Um, we're we want revenge on four, and we want revenge going into the semifinals, hoping to get to the finals at UConn again.
00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:49.759
I know we all talk about them, but we're just gonna go one game at a time.
00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:55.519
And Maren, anything you want to add about that as well?
00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:58.720
And just in terms of, you know, I I heard the word revenge.
00:09:58.960 --> 00:10:01.600
Has that been talked about, you know, a little bit this year?
00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:07.840
That that, you know, any team that we come to that that maybe beat us in in our career, we want to get them this year?
00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:18.159
Um, yeah, I definitely feel like we can definitely do better against different teams, and it's gonna be better uh challenging ourselves more with teams that might be harder.
00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:23.679
And and Scarlett, you're the you're the pitcher for this team.
00:10:23.919 --> 00:10:26.480
You're you're starting uh pretty much every play.
00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:31.919
Uh what's it like to to be the the you know in the circle with this group with the defense behind you?
00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:36.240
And uh what are your hopes and goals for for what's left of the season?
00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:45.120
Um it's great to be behind like just like be fronting this team really like the defense, we just like have gelled together so well this season.
00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:49.759
Um like I feeling like I'm feeling a lot more confident like this year.
00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:55.120
Like obviously we did good last year, like phenomenal, phenomenal year for us.
00:10:55.679 --> 00:11:01.519
Um but at least like defensively this year and like going to the gym and everything, like that helped a lot.
00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:05.120
Um, but we just have gelled together more as a team this year.
00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:12.159
Um so I think that's like one of the main reasons why hopefully we get like to where we want to go and like eventually end up at UConn.
00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:16.399
And and Chris, let's talk about the team this year.
00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:18.879
You know, you got Scarlett in the circle.
00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:23.039
Last week she was our uh Union 12 design pitcher of the week.
00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:25.120
Uh Scarlett, you have a t-shirt coming to you.
00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:26.000
Coach has that.
00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:27.440
I gave it to him yesterday.
00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:31.200
So uh uh enjoy that and congratulations.
00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:33.600
But how good is this kid for you?
00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:35.600
And and you know, what does she bring to the team?
00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:41.600
And and you know, answer that, and then we'll go around to the the rest of the field and talk about the plays you have elsewhere.
00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:47.519
Yeah, I think Scarlett has started to learn and develop that, you know, she throws a bunch of different pitches.
00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:56.000
Um, I mean, she's going from throwing upper 50s with her fastball curveball to dropping a change up at 33 miles per hour, and it's pretty consistent.
00:11:56.159 --> 00:12:06.879
Um, but she's learned to, you know, um, Tom Glavin, Greg Maddox style, you know, not try to strike everybody out, but try to throw pitches for the batters to miss hit the ball.
00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:10.000
Um her defense behind her this year has been outstanding.
00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:11.919
I think we have 18 errors on the season.
00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:15.279
I think we went six or seven games in a row without an error.
00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:20.559
Um, fundamentally, behind her right now, the defense has been outstanding.
00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:24.320
Um, we brought in um a few assistant coaches this year.
00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:27.360
Um, Coach Ryan Batts, uh, he's from the new Fairfield area.
00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:30.799
He works with our catchers, very, very sound guy with our catchers.
00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:34.960
And um Coach Nate Wilda, um, who was the old Bethel coach.
00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:40.879
He also coaches with the Connecticut Impact program, has done a phenomenal job with our outfielders and preparing them.
00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:44.080
Um, I mean, we moved uh Marin over to left field.
00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:51.440
Um, her cousin, who's a freshman, Gia Severice, is sitting in center field, and Gia right now covers 80% of the outfield.
00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:53.120
Um it's just phenomenal.
00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:57.919
We've had um a couple outfielders in right field with tremendous arms.
00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:12.720
Um and having that support behind you um as a pitcher, um, it has to have just a comfort and relief knowing that I could have confidence throwing this certain pitch that my defense behind me is gonna make that play or turn that double play.
00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:21.039
Um, you know, we've done a very good job of throwing behind runners this year, picking runners off, um, you know, like I said, turning double plays.
00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:23.840
It's been it's been very fun to watch.
00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:39.120
Um if if you get a chance to see just our pregame warm-up is something that coaches and college coaches talk about um nonstop, about the movement and where everybody is, the hand-eye coordination, and how everybody's doing something in our pregame warm-up.
00:13:39.440 --> 00:13:45.440
Um, it's definitely something to prepare, and and these girls have solidified that defense behind Scarlet.
00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:53.440
You realize though that come practice on Monday, you're gonna have to explain to them who Tom Glavin and Greg Greg Maddox are, right?
00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:54.559
Yeah, exactly.
00:13:56.480 --> 00:14:05.440
I that there's no video on this, so so I can't I couldn't see the girls' reaction, but I could you could just imagine them looking at each other going, who are the who's who's that who are they?
00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:05.840
Yeah.
00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:09.919
So uh but um who's behind the plate for you?
00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:15.039
Who who's catching all of Scarlet's uh uh so so so this year has been Ashlyn Blum.
00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:24.000
She's um you know, she had knee surgery last year, and she opted to have the surgery at the after the end of her high school season, which she missed a lot of travel ball.
00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:26.080
Um she plays for the Rapids program as well.
00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:31.200
Um so Ashlyn actually had to move to second base last year um just to save her knee a little bit.
00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:34.159
And Lila Farelli had stepped up behind the plate last year.
00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:39.039
Now Ashland's come back into that role, and coincidentally, uh Lila's going to second base for us.
00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:42.320
Um but Ashland's been solid back there.
00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:46.399
Um there's been times I could say, hey, Ash, you're calling you're calling the pitches right now.
00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:50.480
Um and we're comfortable with that, you know, with her and Scarlet being on the same page.
00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:54.159
And and around the infield, who do you have?
00:14:54.639 --> 00:15:03.120
Um Gianni DiLorenzo playing third, Jordan playing uh shortstop, Lila Frelliot second, and uh Liz Elizabeth uh playing first base.
00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:06.480
And I think you did cover the outfield, right?
00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:07.919
I think we got all three spots there.
00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:11.039
I just want to make sure that every kid gets mentioned, you know, that deserves it.
00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:14.399
Yeah, we have uh Marin in left field, her cousin Gia in center.
00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:29.039
Um we had another um senior there in right field for a little while, and now um a freshman Riley Abbed has stepped up and played right field for us, which is a tremendous athlete um for us and a blessing to have as another freshman coming in and be able to step up.
00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:38.960
And girls, uh you know, be being under the radar, and uh, you know, let's let's go with Nicole on this one.
00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:40.639
We'll go back with the seniors.
00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:51.120
Uh being under the radar on a statewide level, uh, does it bother you guys that much, or is that coach's ego talking that you know he wants to be in that poll?
00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:53.759
Or kind of what take do you guys have on that?
00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:55.759
I feel like it's a little bit of both.
00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:59.679
Like, yes, it does feel amazing when like we beat like a good team.
00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:06.879
They kind of see like, whoa, like this little you know, Calpope place and Woodbury, you know, just beat like this really good team.
00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:16.159
But at the same point, there are like moments where we would obviously rather have our like name be a little bit more, you know, learned, but I guess that's kind of like our job.
00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:22.080
Our job is to kind of go out there and you know say, hey, you know, don't kind of you know ignore us.
00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:30.080
And uh coach, this year's team compared to last year's team.
00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:30.879
Are you better?
00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:32.799
Um more experienced.
00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:34.960
I mean, nobody graduated from last year's team.
00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:36.480
So that's right too.
00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:38.000
Yeah, you were senior list last year.
00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:38.720
I do remember that.
00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:46.080
Yeah, um, that's where um, you know, um Liz and another girl we had were captains last year, rolled into that this year.
00:16:46.159 --> 00:17:02.080
That's where um I made that decision about a week and a half ago, maybe two weeks ago, I I stepped up and took these uh three juniors on as captains to start learning the role um from the seniors um to be those, those, that middle break between the coaches and the players.
00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:10.880
Um again, learn the role as captainship because they've they've earned that respect um at the level that they've been playing um in their high school career to step up.
00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:12.400
That's why we have five of them.
00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:18.559
Um I just feel you know that the experience is just so we're better to answer that question.
00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:30.720
Um just the experience um playing in those games, getting to the semifinals, you know, playing against foreign, um has definitely helped out um from where we were before.
00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:38.400
And and you guys beat a really, really good Danbury team, you know, that's playing in the FCAC semifinals on Tuesday.
00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:43.279
So, so right then and there, you know, I'm assuming that you guys, I mean, that was your first statement game.
00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:46.480
Well, I guess Notre Dame Prep uh you'd uh you'd lost to, right?
00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:47.599
That was your season opener.
00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:48.880
Yeah, that was.
00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:53.440
Um Jordan was out too um coming off an injury from from preseason and stuff like that.
00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:55.039
So we mixed things around.
00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:59.279
Um we did have a very strong um preseason schedule.
00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:02.960
Um we had six scrimmages to start off the year, one Jamboree.
00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:05.599
Um, you know, we had the Massachusetts, uh St.
00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:08.319
Paul's, and we did very well against those teams.
00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:12.319
You know, we definitely held our own both close games.
00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:16.559
You know, I think we were on the top side of both of them for the varsity part of the scrimmages.
00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:23.279
Um and, you know, coming to see Notre Dame, um, you know, we had people out of position still a little bit.
00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:26.400
Um, I think there were two earned runs in that game.
00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:33.359
Um, but um, I mean, it was it was nice to come in playing somebody strong, definitely from the start.
00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:35.920
Um, because you never know how the other team's gonna be as well.
00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:42.559
I mean, if you come in and beat a team, you know, at that caliber level, you're gonna, you know, get that respect early in the season, too.
00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:47.680
Um so that that's where we went with having them early in the year.
00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:52.799
And the day before my birthday, and Elizabeth, I'm directing this question to you.
00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:59.759
Um, you guys, you know, went up to Yukon, played Cheshire, uh tight, 3-0 win, you know, Jenica Matos.
00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:05.680
I mean, what she's done this year, she's having a season uh for the for the record books, it seems.
00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:19.920
I don't I don't know if she's given up an earned run, but as you guys walked off the field that day, playing them so well, was it a good feeling or or did you feel like you you guys had missed a little bit of of an opportunity to really make a statement?
00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:23.759
No, we all felt amazing walking off that field.
00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:35.279
I mean, let alone from the fact that we played a really great game against a really great team, we just had so much fun, like being up at UConn, being on the beautiful field that they have and things like that.
00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:39.759
And we knew that we played our absolute best and gave it our all.
00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:43.680
So I none of us were mad or upset or anything.
00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:51.759
Like, we did our absolute best, and I still believe that we got some recognition from that game, um, win or lose.
00:19:51.920 --> 00:20:01.279
Like, we still got what we deserved, I believe, by like people now realizing that they should have to watch out for us and we can be a threat in the league.
00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:04.880
Now, I'm actually looking at the box score as we speak.
00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:07.759
Okay, you guys were yeah, one hit by by her.
00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:09.680
Uh Elizabeth, you had the hit.
00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:13.759
What's it like to face a pitcher of uh Jenica's status?
00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:30.960
Um, and I'm being honest, it's it was a little intimidating because I just I knew I wanted to hit the ball and everything, so I was trying to overcompensate, but once you kind of loosen up and you just do what you know how to do, I feel like that helped me out a lot, not stressing out at the plate.
00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:34.319
Um, but like once the ball left the bat, I mean it was a great feeling.
00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:40.960
And then getting to first and realizing, like, all right, here we are, like I'm on first now, like let's make this happen for the team.
00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:47.519
And and Jordan, you were hitting the leadoff that game, and I don't know if you remember your first at bat against her.
00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:50.400
Uh, but you know, do you remember what you were saying?
00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:54.079
Uh okay, strikeout looking happens to the best of us.
00:20:54.400 --> 00:21:03.200
Um what do you what did you say to your teammates as you, you know, usually you have that little pow-wow, you know, with the on-deck hitter, and then you walk into the dugout.
00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:06.799
You know, what what what was your advice at that point?
00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:10.640
Yeah, so I had a great first um at bat against Jenica.
00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:13.200
I won in, I think, seven pitches.
00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:14.480
I fouled off a lot.
00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:19.279
Um fortunately got caught looking on her changeup, which is an insane pitch that she has.
00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:24.079
Um, so after that at bat, I kind of looked at Scarlett and I told her to have fun.
00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:25.599
I went up there and had fun.
00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:28.400
Um, you can't really think too much against a pitcher like Jenica.
00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:33.200
You just gotta go up and you know do what you know how to do, and you can't doubt yourself.
00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:37.920
No, and then you got and she walked six that day, so obviously it's midseason.
00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:43.119
You know, she wasn't totally on her game, but yeah, just the fact that you know, three one run innings.
00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:59.599
Uh so so Scarlet, you know, facing a lineup like that, I mean, only two earned runs, sounds like you got you guys fully as a team just you know, played your hearts out and played really, really well against the team that has been the number one team in the state, at least in the uh Connecticut.
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.200
Softball blog poll.
00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:03.440
The players have gotten that right all year, right, Jordan?
00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:07.759
What was it like facing that lineup, Scarlet?
00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:15.359
I mean, it was intimidating, I'm not gonna lie, because they just have so much, like I mean, they're the number one team in the state.
00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:24.240
Like we knew that walking in, but like we were just having fun, like we were cracking jokes between innings, just like anything to stay loose, like like we had nothing to lose from that game.
00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:27.359
Like just go like just go play your hearts out, and like that's it.
00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:32.799
Like I did my best to make sure they couldn't they miss hit a lot of things.
00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:36.000
Um and like no pitches off is really what it was.
00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:42.720
Like I just had to be like dialed like all the time, but I had to just play loose and just have fun with it.
00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:54.960
Yeah, and and coach, you know, you got back into league play after that, and you know you started rolling big wins 15-2, 13-0, 18-4, 13-1, 16-1.
00:22:55.440 --> 00:23:01.680
Uh how do you keep a team focused when you you know step back into your league?
00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:10.480
Which, like you said, is is uh it's you guys and and some other teams that are trying to become what you guys have become.
00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:19.599
Is it is that a difficult thing for for to do with uh you know teenage girls to keep them focused when when you're playing teams that you should be beating by scores you're beating them by?
00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:25.519
Well, I mean, the the one thing that we have strong with our 16 girls is the team camaraderie.
00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:35.200
So I think we've had four seven-inning games out of um, we had two forfeit wins with one of our um teams in our league um folding.
00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:40.160
So out of our 18 games, I think there was only four of them that went seven innings for us.
00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:49.599
Um, but the camaraderie and the and the sisterhood and the bond that these girls have, um, most of our starters are only playing three innings.
00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:57.440
So the girls coming off the bench and getting their opportunities is, you know, those starters now become the supporters for them.
00:23:57.759 --> 00:24:05.359
So nobody's sitting down after after coming out of the game and and just going to ice up and they're done for the day.
00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:09.279
They all know that they have a job now to be supportive for for their teammates.
00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:27.359
And and that's something that, you know, doing team bonding stuff off to the side, whether we go bowling together or we do a study hall in the classroom and we work together on projects, um, you know, that that all those little things on the outside help that focus while you're on the field or in the dog out together, too.
00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:45.519
You know, so the support between each other, um, you know, the cheering, the picking each other up, the um advice and talking in between plays and saying, you know, watch how this runner's doing this, watch how the pitcher's tipping this, look at the batter with their hands dropping down, you know, things like that, and how the defense might be moving.
00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:51.519
These girls have have uh you know a higher IQ for softball than I've seen from most teams.
00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:54.960
Um, and and they're all sponges, which is amazing.
00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:58.240
By the way, who's the team who's the team bowler?
00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:58.960
I I have to know.
00:24:59.119 --> 00:25:00.720
Who's the high bowler there?
00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:04.240
Um it was a freshman this year.
00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:06.880
Um, I believe it was Mia Mendez.
00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:08.640
Um she came out of nowhere.
00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:10.480
I can't remember what her last game was.
00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:14.480
It was like a 170 or something crazy out of nowhere.
00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:16.160
Quiet little girl, too.
00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:17.839
You know, it's like out of nowhere.
00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:19.039
I love that.
00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:24.160
It would have been Scarlett, but the catcher kept blocking the ball every time that she threw it.
00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:24.720
So, you know.
00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:27.759
I'll tell you right now, Jordan was right there too, though.
00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:29.519
Jordan was pretty consistent as well.
00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:34.000
She was uh she was out there throwing a lot of strikes and marks in the boxes.
00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:37.279
Yeah, I was gonna say, Scarlett, were you disappointed that you didn't win?
00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:40.400
Because you should have that underhand motion perfected by now.
00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:44.480
I mean, I never claimed to be good at bowling, so I can't say.
00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.559
Is that something?
00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:51.359
I mean, do you guys do a lot of that team bonding stuff though, Scarlett?
00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:54.400
I mean, is that something that makes you know this team special?
00:25:55.119 --> 00:26:01.599
Yeah, like I know there's like clicks on every team, but this one, like, we're pretty like all of us are friends.
00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:09.759
Um, like all the team bonding has definitely helped us like gel as a team this year, and like all of those team bonding, like everyone's friends.
00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:12.000
It's just like it's really fun to be a part of.
00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:14.880
Winning's fun too, John.
00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:17.599
Oh, very, very much so.
00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:19.200
Uh uh, yeah.
00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:30.079
Um I'm from I'm from Maine, which is candle pin bowling, and and you guys will have to Google that after you get after they get done looking up who Tom uh Tom Glavin and Greg Maddox are.
00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:36.880
Uh but yeah, I I didn't uh use the big balls as we call them until uh you know the balls with a hole in them until I moved down here.
00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:43.119
So and I've only been a couple times, but uh I I could see a team definitely having fun doing that type of thing, that's for sure.
00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:45.839
So uh Maren, let me ask you this.
00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:54.240
Uh do you guys do a lot of uh you know live pitching against Scarlet and and what makes her so tough, you know, from a hitter's point of view?
00:26:55.599 --> 00:27:14.400
Um we don't do much like live hitting off of her, but um like I feel like she has lots of like she has a lot of pitches, but she can also change her speed like very well, which can be like hard to read like as the pitch is coming in.
00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:18.880
Especially with that changeup that that uh coach was mentioning, right?
00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:21.359
I mean, is that probably her nastiest pitch?
00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:23.119
Probably, yeah.
00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:28.559
Coach, thoughts you know, just final thoughts.
00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:30.160
You know, we only have a few minutes left here.
00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:34.720
Final thoughts as you head into the the Berkshire League tournament, which starts what, Thursday, I believe?
00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:40.559
Uh for us it's it's uh uh semifinals is Tuesday, and then Wednesday is the finals um with the higher seeds.
00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:44.799
No, I mean I appreciate you guys doing this and doing this for the softball community and so on from there.
00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:48.480
Um, you know, our our our goal is obviously to get to Yukon.
00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:54.799
Um that was our goal this year for the finals, but this team never looks over the next game.
00:27:54.880 --> 00:28:02.799
So our our focus is on Tuesday against Lakeview, which could be a sneaky team in that league, and just try and stay focused one pitch at a time.
00:28:04.640 --> 00:28:07.839
And Jordan, I'm gonna give you the last question.
00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:13.599
Uh as of right now, you act you guys are number one in the CIAC class M standings.
00:28:13.759 --> 00:28:16.240
You know, hopefully when the brackets come out, you'll still be there.
00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:18.240
Does that add pressure to you?
00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:24.720
Or do you feel that it's just a reward, you know, because you gotta beat everybody that's gonna be in front of you anyway to get to UConn.
00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:29.440
So is is that just kind of a reward for the great season that you guys did have?
00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:34.720
Um personally, being number one isn't anything for us, I don't think.
00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:40.640
I think other people look at it because we're in the Berkshire League that, oh, they play like these teams, so they're there.
00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:43.039
They don't really play the known name teams.
00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:45.599
Um, but for us, we just do one game at a time.
00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:50.960
We don't care like if you're a Cheshire or a Foreign or a Massick or we play like a Shein or something like that.
00:28:51.119 --> 00:28:52.880
We're gonna take it one pitch at a time.
00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:55.519
We don't care what your record is, we don't care where you're from or whatever.
00:28:55.599 --> 00:29:00.640
We play the way we know how to play, and the score is gonna be the score at the end of the game.
00:29:01.359 --> 00:29:02.319
That's a great answer.
00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:05.359
That's what that's what I like, is they know how good they're.
00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:08.160
So if people want to overlook them, let them overlook them.
00:29:08.400 --> 00:29:10.559
They still gotta play the game between the baselines.
00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:12.079
Fantastic answer.
00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:19.039
That's uh John, that's that's the way to do it, and uh wish uh wish this team a lot of good fortune moving forward.
00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:20.400
It's a good group.
00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:22.400
Oh, yeah, no, a hundred percent.
00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:39.359
And like I said, you know, I've I got to know Elizabeth uh a little over a year ago when she committed to playing college, and and and like I said, Jordan's been one of the voters in the uh Connecticut Softball blog's top ten players poll all season, and uh they've all done an amazing job, and I'm just so proud of all of them.
00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:42.880
So um and it was great, you know, getting to meet uh Scarlett.
00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:46.720
I've known her name since I've started the blog because that's how good she's been for that long.
00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:52.319
And and and Maren and Nicole, great getting to talk to you guys, and we wish you the best of luck this postseason.
00:29:52.400 --> 00:30:01.200
And uh who knows, maybe you know, if we invite all the state champs back to the podcast again, maybe we'll be having an even better conversation somewhere down the line.
00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:03.200
But gotta play the games first.
00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:04.160
Yeah.
00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:05.519
Thank you guys very much.
00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:06.480
Appreciate it.
00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:07.759
It it's been our pleasure.
00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:08.720
It's been our pleasure.
00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:09.680
Absolutely true.
00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:10.640
John, you good?
00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:11.759
Should we wrap up?
00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:12.880
Let's wrap up.
00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:14.559
Let's do it again next week.
00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:24.240
We will have another group on to talk with us, but that'll do it for this edition of the Inside Corner Connecticut Softball Podcast for John Nash and our guests from Nanawog.
00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:25.359
I'm Rob Adams.
00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:26.799
We'll talk to you next time.
