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07/16/2024 11:23 AMLexi Falcioni garnered great longevity in the game of softball, thanks to the constant uplifting and encouragement of her long-standing teammates. Through that, she has learned how to be the consummate and revered colleague while securing great recognition by her conference and club.
The North Branford softball second baseman grew up playing t-ball before transitioning to travel softball as she grew older. She stuck to the diamond all through these years. After being a newcomer to both the Thunderbirds and second base as a freshman, she has grown into the position and earned First Team All-Shoreline accolades this spring as a junior in helping North Branford record a remarkable ninth-straight conference crown.
Lexi was recognized individually as an All-State and First Team All-Shoreline athlete with season stats of a .507 batting average, 41 runs, 35 hits, and 21 RBI, while already surpassing 100 career hits.
“The people I have surrounded myself with through the game have made me fall in love with it. I love having played with them for so many years, and they help take pressure off me,” says Lexi. “I have grown as a person and have learned to deal with and overcome challenges. I also learned that you need to always put in hard work, but also that you can never give up on yourself.”
Prior to arriving at North Branford, Lexi spent most of her softball experience on the other half of the heart of the infield. Yet she took to the challenge of mastering a new field assignment. Her prior years at shortstop also helped her develop a good rapport and feel for her fielding mate.
“My main position growing up was shortstop. I had not played it before, but I just wanted to get out there as a freshman,” Lexi says. “It is a big part of the infield, and it was great to experience something new and grow in it. You have to take control of things as a second baseman, but not total control. You have to have good communication with the shortstop as well. As a lead-off hitter, I am not a home run hitter. Yet I do what I can to get on base and know my teammates will get me home.”
Lexi has discovered the balance that really comes into play when expressing yourself and establishing yourself as a leader. She also adds it is about learning to navigate your way into the sunlight when it seems clouds are hard to shake on any given day.
“I felt I have gotten good at becoming a team player and leader. You cannot take total control or be too demanding, and sometimes you have to teach the girls new things that they do not know,” says Lexi. “I need to work on not criticizing myself as much and how to fix things when they do not go your way.”
A formidable softball player must be mentally fit as much as they need physical prowess. Lexi knows that in a game built on averages, you have to simply embrace inevitable shortcomings and grow from them to hit it out of the park on your next rep.
“I feel I have a good mental game when it comes to softball,” says Lexi. “A strikeout is not the end of the world. We all want to succeed all the time, but there are times when things will not go your way. You have to keep your head up and never get so down on yourself.”
North Branford Head Coach Nick DeLizio explains that no matter the setting or format, what you see is what you get from Lexi. Her personality and tenacity is as consistent as her bat at the plate by being at the top of the order for the Thunderbirds.
“The best part about Lexi is her personality. She always provides a fun atmosphere to go along with her passion for the game. She's one of the girls that makes practice not just a joy for her teammates, but for the coaching staff. She is the same person on the field, in the hallways, and in the classroom,” says DeLizio. “In games, she plays hard and is always ready for a challenge. She has been our lead-off hitter the past two seasons, and when she gets on, good things tend to happen for us. She has an aggressive approach at the plate, which has led to her not missing many good pitches. Her approach is one of the reasons why we have been successful. On top of that, her reaching the milestone of 100 career hits in her junior season is something that is a very rare feat to do.”
The Thunderbirds batted .500 in terms of attaining their preseason objectives. They kept the streak of league titles alive, though they are still chasing that elusive top prize. Lexi is confident her senior season will be the charm with a grounded and hungry group of underclassmen.
“It was our goal this past year to win Shorelines, so it was a big deal. We were so happy when we won it because we worked hard all year,” Lexi says. “We also wanted to win states. While we fell short, this was the most talented and motivated team I have ever played on. We want to win that 10th straight title next year. We are losing some valuable seniors, but we are confident the younger girls will step up.”