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10/01/2024 11:19 AMLexi Heaphy has been a mainstay in the starting lineups for both of her clubs at East Haven High School. How has she withstood the pressure of performing as a starter for two sporting seasons across four years? She swats it away with a sound mind that eliminates any negative noise.
The East Haven senior started off with softball around the age of 10 after following in her sister’s footsteps. Then, around sixth grade, she decided to also test her might on the volleyball court. Entering her senior season, Lexi will be a four-year starter in both sports as a shortstop in the infield and outside hitter on the floor. On the softball side, she is a two-time All-SCC Team member and will be a two-year captain this upcoming spring.
“You have to have a mentally tough brain when playing sports like softball and volleyball. You have to come back when you make mistakes with a short term memory. I also took advice from older players, along with my family, which has helped me,” says Lexi. “I feel softball has helped me become stronger with my hitting abilities in volleyball. Both sports have helped me with that mental toughness and short term memory after making mistakes. My focus has become better when it comes to playing for myself and for my team, and keeping that balance to make sure I am okay.”
Regardless of the setting or terrain of a contest, Lexi loves her colleagues at her side. They encourage her to perform at her best, and they, as a collective, have the bond to overcome any setbacks or disagreements.
“I love my teammates with volleyball. They are very supportive, and I would not be where I am now without them,” says Lexi. “It is the same with softball. As teammates, we care about each other and make sure everyone is okay and not in their heads. We are like a family and always work past any issues.”
Bringing the heat with her bat and hands, Lexi explains sometimes it can be tough to adjust her abilities to the given sport she is playing. Yet her work at the plate aids her quite well when it comes to producing around the net for the Yellowjackets.
“Playing outside hitter, one of the challenging parts of it is my mechanics when it comes to hitting and doing full rotation. It can be tough to focus to make sure my mechanics are good for volleyball because I have the mechanics of a softball player,” says Lexi. “But one of the things I enjoy the most about it is the hitting aspect of it because it seems to come to me easily through playing softball.”
Yellowjackets’ softball skipper Ed Crisafi details that from the get-go, Lexi has been a pivotal piece in all of East Haven’s triumphs in her tenure. Her efforts and heart for her club landed her a leadership appointment and on the preface of a major career milestone.
“Lexi has been an integral part of the East Haven softball program for three full years now as the starting shortstop since her freshman year,” says Crisafi. “She played a huge part in the 2022 SCC Championship season for us as a freshman, and she has continued to grow as both a player and a leader. She was elected as a captain her junior year and will again captain this year's squad. Additionally, she is 16 hits shy of joining the program's 100-hit club.”
Lexi certainly felt some anxiety upon stepping into the spotlight as a rookie, trying to live up to high expectations in her mind. Though after interacting with her coaches and teammates, she learned to relax those standards and just play her game.
“My freshman year was my toughest because I started on varsity for both teams. I felt the pressure to be perfect, along with following my sister,” says Lexi. “But with the team and support from them, I felt more comfortable as it went on. I just make sure to shake things off when I make a mistake and forget about it and move on.”
As someone who never stops perfecting her crafts, Lexi wants to provide a steadier hand on the floor while making the transition to each endeavor much smoother.
“I want to improve on my accuracy and consistency with hitting, passing, and serving,” says Lexi. “I also want to get better at adjusting my mechanics for each sport. I also want to get better and improve my serve receiving. I feel there is always room for improvement as an athlete.”
In her final foray with volleyball, Lexi wants herself and East Haven to cap off their time together with some postseason participation. When it comes to the outdoors, the Yellowjackets are looking to return to that championship glory within their conference.
“For volleyball, we want to qualify for SCCs and states because it is something we have struggled with for the last few years. As a team, we want to be better and be more comfortable this year,” says Lexi. “In softball, we want to possibly go to the SCC Championship this year. I feel we have a good team connection to make that happen. Personally, I want to make the All-State Team and First Team All-SCC for both sports.”