Despite having just senior on its roster, the Guilford softball team is fielding a seasoned squad that features plenty of talent and veteran leadership this spring. Just three weeks into the campaign, the Indians are proving that they are poised for the long haul in the playoffs.

Head Coach Steve Zajac welcomes back just one senior from a 2016 club that finished 11-9 in the regular season before taking first round losses to Cheshire and Hand in the SCC and Class L State tournaments, respectively. However, Guilford also returns several underclass athletes who basked in the starting spotlight last spring and are formidable pieces for the 2017 edition of the Indians, who own an overall record of 4-2 with a mark of 1-1 in the SCC Hammonasset Division. Last week, Guilford took a 9-0 loss to Cheshire on April 17, but bounced back two days later with a 7-5 walk-off victory over Foran on a two-run home run by Jordyn Goldstein.

“I have been very impressed with our team so far this year. We have a great group of girls that are dedicated to having the best season we can,” said Coach Zajac. “We have a young team with only one senior, but with eight starters back from last year’s team, we have the experience necessary to be very competitive and have our best season in years.”

Guilford’s lone senior, catcher Megan Zampano, is serving as one of the Indians’ captains this season. Joining her at the helm is junior pitcher Amanda King, who led the team with a .472 batting average to go with six homers and 25 RBI last season. Both athletes are leading the Indians like consummate professionals who are willing to put their team’s goals before any personal achievements.

“Amanda was named a captain for the second consecutive year. She has a great knowledge of the game. Between the lines and in the dugout, Amanda provides great leadership for our team. She always gives a great effort and strives to be the best she can. Amanda has worked hard to improve her pitching this year, but is also a tremendous hitter,” said Zajac. “Megan is a quiet leader who leads by example. She is always working hard at her game and is willing to help her teammates at any time. Megan has played on the varsity team for four years and has been a starting catcher on the team since her sophomore year.”

The Indians also feature several young, but crucial players who are displaying knowledge and talent well beyond their years. Among those athletes are sophomore Leah Kornguth (.304, 13 RBI for 2016) at second base, Ava Gladwin (.343 batting average with 22 runs scored last year) at shortstop, in the outfield, and behind the dish; Emily Torre (.400, 3 triples, 1 home run, 5 RBI this year) at first base, and Goldstein (6 RBI this spring) at the hot corner of third base. Returning juniors Charlotte Young and second baseman Sara Barreira play center field and second base, respectively, for the Indians. Sophomore Jess Smith and freshmen Mary Evans, Eva Ott Hill, Delaney Kenney, Sha Jameson, and sophomore Jess Smith are new to the varsity team.

“Ava is our leadoff hitter, moving to the infield after being the team’s starting left fielder last season. Ava gives us speed at the top of the lineup. Leah is a versatile player, who is willing to do whatever it takes for the team to win. Emily is making the move from outfield to first this season. She has worked hard and is doing a great job defensively at first. Jordyn is our starting third baseman for the second consecutive season. Jordyn plays excellent defense and has a great arm for third. Jordyn is off to a hot start this year at the plate,” Zajac said. “Charlotte is the leader of our outfield. Her speed allows her to cover lots of ground, catching balls in center. Charlotte also uses her speed offensively, bunting for hits and causing havoc on the bases. Sara was our starting shortstop last season and has moved over to second this season. Sara does a tremendous job defensively, fielding ground balls and covering first on bunt plays. Sara is a veteran that will provide leadership to our young infield.”

When Guilford faced Cheshire last week, the Rams broke open a 2-0 game by scoring four runs in the fifth inning on their way to the 9-0 victory. Young and Kornguth had base hits for Guilford.

In the Foran game, the Lions were down 4-2 with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, when Hannah DeSousa hit a three-run homer to give her team the lead. Guilford came back in the bottom of the seventh with a one out solo shot by King to tie the game. Following a single by Torre, Goldstein hit a two-run, walk off home run to win it for the Indians. King struck out eight and gave up four hits to earn the victory.

Previously, on April 15, the Indians gained a non-conference victory with a 6-3 final over East Lyme. Guilford got out to a good start by plating three runs in the first inning, highlighted by an RBI single by Jess Smith (2 hits) and a two-run double from Goldstein (2-for-3, double, 3 RBI). Guilford extended the lead in the fourth, when Goldstein drove in Torre, who had doubled. The scoring finished on an RBI triple by King (2-for-4), who also picked up the win on the mound by fanning nine. Gladwin was 2-for-4 with a double, plus Zampano had a pair of hits.

The Indians won’t back down from any challenges while playing a difficult schedule that features two games against Class LL state champion Cheshire and rival Hand, which prevailed 7-5 in the teams’ first meeting. Coach Zajac feels that no task is too tall for his club to overcome as long as Guilford learns from its lessons and grows with each passing day.

“Our biggest games are always our rivalry games versus Hand. We played each other in the Class L Tournament last year, and we hope to give them a loss this year. We also face last year’s Class LL undefeated state champions, Cheshire, two times. This will be a great test for our team. The SCC always gives top-level competition to help prepare us for the postseason,” said Zajac. “Our most important goal is to improve every day, practicing hard and learning from our mistakes to become better softball players. We want to be playing our best softball at the end of the season, during the SCC and Class L State tournaments.”

From the Sidelines

This is Steve Zajac’s 16th year as the Indians’ head coach.

Guilford assistant coaches this year are Christa Parisi, who’s in her third season as the JV coach; and newcomer Meghan Wiese, the former coach at Adams Middle School who’s now in her first year as a varsity assistant.

This year, the Indians are playing in the realigned SCC Hammonasset Division with Cheshire and Career, as well as longtime division rivals Law and Foran.