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04/13/2013 12:00 AMNorth Haven softball has won the SCC Oronoque Division the past seven years and so there’s no question the Indians have set their sights set on claiming title number eight this spring. Although there’s still plenty of season left to play, Sally Maher’s squad has begun this quest in fine fashion by winning its first six games, including two in division play.
Making this solid start all the more impressive is the ease with which the Indians breezed through their three opponents last week as they earned a 5-0 home win against Shelton, a 13-1 triumph at Career, and then a 21-1 victory at another Oronoque foe in Cross that was halted after five innings due to the mercy rule.
“This is absolutely a good start to the season, especially when it felt like spring would never get here with the weather,” said Maher, whose team plays at division opponent East Haven at 3:45 p.m. on Friday, April 19. “Our hitting has definitely been impressive, Arianna [Pustari] and Gabby [Benedetto] have both pitched well, and we really have a lot of depth on this team overall.”
Pustari, a junior who’s in her third season as North Haven’s primary hurler, got the ball when the Indians faced Shelton on April 8 and went the distance on a six-hitter. North Haven notched a three-spot in the fourth inning when captain center fielder Brie Melillo tripled and scored on a single by fellow junior Nicole Dunlop, who then came home on senior right fielder Mary Casey’s single. Third baseman Mia Martinez then plated shortstop and fellow sophomore Amanda Kenney on a fielder’s choice to make it 3-0. The Indians added a pair in the sixth on another fielder’s choice RBI from Martinez, followed by a sacrifice fly from junior outfielder Kyle Searles that scored Casey, who had singled. Senior first baseman Emily Laydon added two singles for the Indians.
“We played clean defense behind Arianna as we only made one error,” Coach Maher said. “Shelton had a few threats early, but couldn’t them in, and Arianna did a great job after that.”
North Haven made no errors in the Career win, a game that saw Pustari record her fourth win of the spring by tossing four solid innings, after which senior Benedetto worked the final three. The Indians tallied five runs in the second inning as junior left fielder Brittany Murray singled home Martinez, after which Dunlop hit an inside-the park grand slam to right-center field for a 5-0 advantage. North Haven tacked on four more in the fourth, highlighted by RBI from Dunlop and Martinez. All totaled, Melillo, Martinez, and senior captain second baseman Jess Seaver each had two hits with Dunlop going 3-for-4 with a single, double, and the grand slam, plus four runs scored and five RBI. She discussed her team’s goals for 2013.
“Our team definitely wants to win the division and we’re focusing on communicating well and hitting all the basics,” said Dunlop, the Indians’ catcher, who’s 9-for-20 on the campaign. “So far, we’re doing well. Our lineup has been consistent, Arianna and Gabby have come in stronger with more movement on their pitches, and our defense has played really well.”
On April 11, it was Benedetto’s turn to start on the mound and she delivered by stifling Cross through four frames for her second win, after which sophomore Haley Arnaoutis threw a clean fifth. North Haven put away this game early with six in the first and five in the second. Benedetto helped her own cause with two hits and three RBI, Kenney doubled with two RBI, Searles had two hits, and sophomore center fielder Allyson Milone tripled, hit an inside-the park homer, and collected five RBI.
“Gabby did a good job, we made just one error, and a lot of our young kids came over after the JV game and got some work,” Maher said.
Maher enters another season assisted by her father Frank Maher, along with JV coach Karen Castagnola and her husband Roy Castagnola, plus Joel Kaletsky, Vin Cretella, and Lisa Altieri.
In addition to those already mentioned, also having played varsity so far are senior outfielder Nicole Onofrio, junior first baseman Paige Godi, sophomore infielder Lauren Landino, sophomore designated player Victoria Bouffard, sophomore first baseman Francesca Anastasio, freshman catcher Rachel Card, freshman third baseman Rachel Giatrelis, and freshman utility player Jordyn Sheeley, who’s been pitching for the JV team.