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Turbert’s Determined to Have a Big Senior Year

In his three years at Branford High School, Zach Turbert has been a standout member of the Hornets’ football, boys’ basketball, and baseball teams. After spending his summer playing for Branford’s Senior American Legion baseball squad, Zach has his sights set on leading all three of his Hornets’ teams into the postseason as a senior.

Zach began playing baseball in North Branford’s youth league at the age of four. He was encouraged to play by his parents, Julie and Rodney. As soon as he set foot on the diamond, Zach realized that he liked to compete and enjoyed playing the sport.

“My parents made me play. From there, I really loved it,” says Zach. “I just liked playing the game. I liked competing.”

Zach played baseball at the rec level through 8th grade. When he was 12, Zach spent a year competing for Branford’s travel team. As he played more baseball, Zach was learning how to become both a better individual player and a better teammate.

“Being with your teammates and playing with them since you were young makes you better friends as you grow up,” Zach says. “We were becoming better teammates, and I was growing with them.”

Zach was an infielder when he first started playing baseball, but shifted to the outfield following his days in Little League. Zach has played center field throughout his time with the Hornets. Every time the opposing hitter steps into the batter’s box, Zach wants to ball hit to him and will always be ready to make the catch.

As a sophomore, Zach joined the Branford baseball program and played for the JV team. While he had plenty of baseball experience, the leap to varsity still came with some challenges for Zach. It took some getting used to, but Zach’s first season with the Hornets helped him get acclimated to the challenges of high school baseball.

“It was different. The pitchers get better. The game speeds up,” says Zach. “It’s a big change, but I got used to it.”

Zach was elevated to Branford’s varsity roster as a junior this year. Once again, he had to adjust to the speed of the game. However, Zach worked with his coaches to become a better hitter and felt that he put together a strong junior season.

This summer, Zach competed for Branford’s Senior American Legion baseball team, which features athletes from Branford and North Branford. After the Hornets defeated the T-Birds during the high school season, Zach had a nice time continuing the friendly rivalry with his Post 83 teammates and enjoyed competing alongside a group of North Branford students.

“It was good, especially getting to play with the North Branford kids,” Zach says. “We beat them this year, so we talked about that a lot. I got to play with a lot of other friends. It’s just fun.”

In addition to baseball, Zach also plays football and basketball at Branford High School. Zach began playing flag football at the age of six and then started with basketball at age seven. By playing three sports, Zach is able to grow athletically as he meets new people and gains different experiences. No matter what season he’s in, Zach fully devotes himself to the sport that he’s playing at that time.

“I just focus on one of them at a time. Don’t try and think about the others while you’re in one,” says Zach. “Put all your time in one. Once it gets to the next season, switch over.”

In his junior year, Zach served as the starting varsity quarterback for the Branford football team and helped the Hornets have an outstanding season. Branford finished the year with a record of 9-3 on its way to making the semifinals of the Class M State Playoffs. Zach was honored to play quarterback for the Hornets during their postseason run and felt proud about how far they advanced last fall.

“It was great. It was amazing doing as well as we did,” Zach says. “Proving everybody wrong felt great.”

During the winter season, Zach played a key role for a Branford boys’ basketball team that turned in a great campaign. The Hornets netted an overall record of 19-5 on their way to reaching both the SCC and state quarterfinals.

As he enters his senior year, Zach’s goal is to lead Branford’s football, basketball, and baseball squads into the playoffs. Whether he’s on the gridiron, the hardwood, or the diamond, Zach loves wearing the Hornets’ uniform while representing his hometown.

“It means everything. That’s the town I grew up in,” says Zach. “That’s where I represent every time I play. It means a lot to me.”