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08/20/2024 12:12 PMNinamarie DeMennato has used her diverse background in sports to establish herself as a dynamic athlete with several strengths. More importantly, it proved pivotal in her path to becoming a jack of all trades and superb captain for the North Haven softball team.
The North Haven Class of 2024 graduate originally started out as a dancer before venturing over to soccer, cheerleading, and swimming. She then came into softball around the age of 10, thanks in large part to her father and Ninamarie’s bonding via the sport. After making some varsity appearances as a freshman for the Nighthawks, she worked diligently into becoming a utility player by pitching and playing outfielder while serving as a 2024 team captain.
“I had an instant connection with the sport. I always know what is going on with the sport, and I have always had a passion for it,” says Ninamarie. “My success has come from working hard in the gym, and it is not just pitching and hitting drills, but also diet and exercise. The diet and exercise have helped me become faster and stronger. Playing field hockey has also helped my endurance and mobility. It has also helped my work ethic because field hockey was not a sport I had played previously. And so its conditioning showed me a different side of being an athlete.”
Ninamarie, being the active gamer she is, loves never having a solo track mind on the field. She loves being an all-tool player who can fill any squad void at a moment’s notice. Still, her passion is procured in the outfield, where she gets to take hold of reins in the grass.
“I have a lot of fun being a utility player because I am not a one-trick pony. I can also hop into whatever spot the team needs me to be at,” Ninamarie says. “It takes a lot of effort, and you have to have that drive because you are learning multiple positions. I like playing center field because you are like the quarterback of the outfield, and you get to call off the other outfielders and take charge.”
Stepping into the circle as a rookie can bring with it a great deal of anxiety and anguish. Ninamarie was no exception to that, but she discovered through her endeavors to simply not beat herself with additional pressure.
“I struggled mentally as a player when I was younger. Pitching as a freshman can create a lot of stress,” says Ninamarie, who finished with a 1.89 earned-run average for her senior year. “I knew I had to get over that hump where I put too much pressure on myself. Taking a step back from pitching helped, as I am more confident in myself in the outfield. Whenever I hit adversity, I tell myself that I am trained to handle this and that I know what I am doing.”
Moving her way into a squad stewardship spot was a little more grueling and demanding than Ninamarie had originally anticipated. She and her captain colleagues had the mission statement of fusing all tiers and teams of the program together. It was a mission accomplished, as the Nighthawks united to return to the SCC Tournament final.
“Being a captain definitely was not easy, and it is harder than you think,” Ninamarie says. “I have taken on leadership roles in high school, so I had some experience. But there was a lot of pressure on the captains to establish more of a family feel with the team. I knew we had to bond the JV and varsity teams together. I knew we needed that to guide us to an SCC title, even though we lost in the finals. I think we really grew as a team this year.”
North Haven skipper Vinny Cretella clearly saw how much Ninamarie wanted to bring that communal aspect to the club. He adds that she had a dedication second to none, along with a great sense of selflessness by volunteering her time in the community.
“Ninamarie took her role and responsibility as one of our captains seriously and was a major contributor to maintaining our family atmosphere and team culture. She understood her role and was a great role model for younger players. Her work ethic and the support she gave her teammates is difficult to replicate and will be missed next year,” says Cretella. “Her caring and compassionate nature was evident, as Ninamarie also took the time to volunteer as a partner with our Unified Sports athletes supporting [North Haven High School] NHHS students with disabilities. She was able to use her passion for sports and aid others to succeed in their own capacity. Her work ethic was evident during practices and game time. She was always ready in whatever capacity she was needed on the field. Having a player like Ninamarie was essential to our team's success.”
Looking ahead to her life post-Nighthawks’ softball, Ninamarie enters the next phase with a healthy sense of what it takes to thrive individually while in a team atmosphere. Yet she will always look fondly upon her cherished time each day with her beloved teammates and coaches.
“My time with North Haven softball taught me the importance of showing up and putting in hard work to see results. It also taught me how to work in a team environment,” says Ninamarie. “I am a more well-rounded person through my experience on the team. I am able to show up and work well with others. This team is something I will miss very much. It was always a staple in my life and an escape for me with my friends.”