Erika D’Amore’s job as a math teacher is what originally brought her to East Haven. However, over the past two years, Erika has been using her experience from playing softball in high school and college to teach numerous athletes on the East Haven softball team as an assistant coach in the program.

Erika is currently a West Haven resident and grew up playing softball in Oneida, New York. She started by playing tee-ball and then began playing softball in 4th grade. At first, Erika wanted to play kickball. However, once she stepped on the softball diamond, Erika realized it was a sport in which she could truly excel.

“I wanted to be in a kickball league, but there was no kickball. Just soccer or baseball. I ended up playing in both,” says Erika. “When I hit 8th grade, I realized I had potential in multiple sports. I was able to hone in and realized softball was the one that could take me the farthest.”

Erika played softball for all four years of high school in Oneida. She also played basketball and soccer, serving as a captain in all three sports during her junior and senior years.

After graduating from Oneida High School in 2011, Erika went on to play four years of softball at the University of New Haven, also serving as a captain, before graduating in 2015. By playing high school and college softball, Erika learned what it means to be a leader, and she was able to translate those skills when it came time for her to become a coach.

“I was always a natural leader. I played soccer, basketball, and softball, and I was a captain in all three since my junior year. When I got to college, I got voted into captain by my team when I was a bench player. They recognized my positivity and how I was able to bring the team together,” Erika says. “The leadership I gained in high school, I brought to college, and it has now helped me at the coaching level.”

During her time in college, Erika went back to Oneida to coach in a summer softball league. Prior to coming to East Haven, she also served as an assistant coach at Stratford High School. While she admits that transitioning from athlete to coach took some time getting used to, Erika liked that she was able to remain involved in the sport that she loved playing.

“It was interesting. I just wanted to take ground balls myself. It was a transition. I had to take a step back and bring things back down to a simpler level,” says Erika. “I had to go through the fundamentals and the techniques. It was a weird transition, but I enjoyed it.”

In 2020, the East Haven softball team was looking for a new assistant coach. Erika had already established herself as a math teacher at the high school. Head Coach Ed Crisafi reached out to Erika and asked if she would be interested in joining the coaching staff. Erika said yes and felt that coaching would be a great way for her to connect with the students she was teaching.

After the 2020 season was canceled, Erika officially joined the Yellowjackets’ coaching staff in 2021. As soon as she joined, Erika noticed how Ed Crisafi and Assistant Coach Jeff Crisafi were similar to her coaches growing up and how special of a program the Easties have.

“Ed and Jeff really remind me of the coaches I had in high school. They were very focused and very driven, but they also had a laid-back side and were able to relate to the girls and really get the best out of them,” Erika says. “You get to build a different relationship, and the girls get to see you in a different light, rather than in just the classroom.”

Erika has seen the Yellowjackets achieve tremendous feats as a member of East Haven’s coaching staff. This past season, the Easties won their first SCC championship, advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class L State Tournament, and broke the school record for wins by recording 23 victories.

Erika knew that fellow assistant coaches Talia Loda and Jenna Gaudioso-Crisafi saw similar success when they played for East Haven. Erika had also experienced her fair share of success with her squad in Oneida. As she watches today’s athletes compete, Erika takes pride in seeing how the team’s success affects them in a positive way.

“It really does bring me back to my high school days. I know Jenna and Tal had that success when they were players at East Haven. I had that success when I was in high school, as well,” says Erika. “It’s fun to see how it affects these girls. Being in a talented program brings out the best in them. They work hard all year-round to ensure they’re putting the team first and making sure this program keeps succeeding through all the years.”

Heading into college, Erika moved from playing the infield to the outfield. With East Haven, she spends a lot of her time coaching the team’s outfielders alongside Gaudioso-Crisafi. However, with her experience in the infield, Erika is willing to help out wherever needed. When she’s coaching, Erika is always promoting positivity and communication with hopes of helping every player that she works with become a leader.

Coach Ed Crisafi feels that Erika’s versatility has made her a welcome addition to the East Haven softball team. Crisafi says that Erika’s contributions to the Easties are a huge help for everyone in the program.

“Erika has been a pleasant addition to the staff. She works with both the infielders and the outfielders and has done so for the past three years,” Crisafi says. “Like Jenna and Tal, her ability to handle drills at practice makes mine and Jeff’s job much easier.”

From playing to coaching, Erika has been involved with softball for most of her life. Softball has always been a relaxing sport for Erika, and she feels glad that’s still involved in the game as a coach in East Haven.

“It’s really a great stress relief. After the school day is done, it’s so fun to go outside and coach a great group of girls,” says Erika. “I love staying involved in the game and staying active. It’s another aspect of my life that gets me out there doing something I enjoy.”