As the East Haven softball team awaits word on whether it will be able to play any games this year, the Yellowjackets’ coaches are making sure that everyone in the program stays connected. Assistant Coach Jeff Crisafi is always communicating with the players and has been conducting Zoom chats.

Sometimes, the Easties will play a game in which Crisafi gives the team two items and each player picks their favorite. Recently, he asked them if they preferred ranch dressing or bleu cheese. Crisafi will then post the results on social media, ensuring that both the Yellowjackets’ athletes and their fans stay up to date with any news on the season.

Whether they’re getting ready to potentially take batting practice or discussing salad dressing on Zoom, the athletes on the East Haven softball team remain a family. Head Coach Ed Crisafi loves to see that family bond translate on the field, but either way, he feels proud to call himself the Yellowjackets’ coach.

“They’re a close-knit group. They all like each other, they all get along, they’re a pleasure to coach,” Crisafi said. “That’s how it has been around here the last eight, nine, 10 years. That’s why I keep going.”

The Yellowjackets went on a wild ride to the championship game of the Class L State Tournament last year. After entering the bracket as the No. 16 seed, the Yellowjackets won four-straight games, including a victory against No. 1 seed St. Joseph in the second round, on their way to making the state final.

Head Coach Crisafi said the win over St. Joseph was one of the biggest victories of his two-plus decade career as East Haven’s skipper. Crisafi commended last year’s players for how they performed both at the plate and in the field, as well as the way they competed as a group.

“As a team, we hit 24 home runs. The most one of my teams had ever hit was 12,” Crisafi said. “The team hit with power, hit the ball hard. Six out of our 10 starters hit over .300. Once the weather warmed up, Tori [Heaphy] and Emilee [Bishop] really pitched well. With the way things finished last year, we were really looking forward to this season.”

Heading into 2020, East Haven was bringing back 8 of its 10 starters from last year. Additionally, three bench players earned their varsity letters for the Yellowjackets in 2019, giving the team 11 returning letter winners. Coach Crisafi noted that this edition of the Easties features a nice mix of youth and experience.

“Even though we have 11 lettermen back, we are still really young. As a group, they are very fun and easy to coach,” said Crisafi. “We stress it during conditioning—newspaper clippings don’t mean anything. You made the finals last year. It doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be there this year. It’s going to take hard work. You have to keep improving. That’s how they feel. That last loss left a bad taste in their mouth. The kids were really looking forward to this, knowing they had a legitimate shot at winning it all.”

Three of East Haven’s returning players are serving as the team’s senior captains. The Yellowjackets’ captains are outfielders Rebecca Flynn, Jillian Hay, and Stephanie Sorrentino. Flynn was named to All-SCC Second Team last season and hit a two-run walk-off home run in East Haven’s 2-0 victory over Hand in the first round of the Class L State Tournament.

“They were the three that haven been with us since freshman year. They’re good leaders. They lead by example,” Crisafi said. “All three were at conditioning every time we had it. They were the coaches’ picks, but the kids look up to them, too.”

Heaphy and Bishop returned to East Haven slated to handle the pitching duties this year. A junior, Heaphy was pitching every game for the Yellowjackets at the end of last season. Coach Crisafi notes that Bishop, a sophomore, is also a talented pitcher who continues to improve.

When they aren’t on the mound, Heaphy and Bishop both play shortstop for East Haven. Heaphy posted a .473 batting average and was an All-SCC First Team selection last year. She also tied a school record by getting 44 hits on the season.

Coach Crisafi also has big expectations for sophomore catcher Magdalena Barthel. As a freshman, Barthel batted. 424 with four home runs and three triples to make the All-SCC Second-Team. She was behind the plate for 23 of East Haven’s 25 games.

“With everybody coming back, everyone is a year older, and we just want to be better,” Crisafi said.