The North Branford softball team continued its strong play this season by winning program’s seventh-straight Shoreline Conference title and then making it to the state final for the second year in a row. As the team battled through difficult competition, Head Coach Nick DeLizio felt proud of the Thunderbirds for giving everything they had and once again demonstrating why North Branford has one of the best softball programs in the state.

North Branford posted a regular-season record of 13-7 and finished with an overall mark of 20-8 for the 2022 campaign.

However, the T-Birds’ storybook season didn’t start ceremoniously as the team lost its first three games of the year. Coach DeLizio didn’t want his players to panic since it was still early, but he knew that both the athletes and the coaches had to figure out what they could do to help the team improve.

“It’s not how you start. It’s how you finish. Everything was a learning experience just to get better for everybody—the players and coaching staff,” DeLizio said. “What can everybody do better, so we can get the most out of our team and each other?”

North Branford responded by winning its next four games. Then on April 22, the T-Birds took a 13-8 loss to Coginchaug in a game that Coach DeLizio called an eye-opener in terms of what needed to be improved. That improvement would come quickly as the Thunderbirds won their next three games by defeating Westbrook-Portland (21-0), Berlin (16-3), and Valley Regional (21-7). DeLizio called the Berlin victory one of North Branford’s best performances of the season and a benchmark that showed how good this year’s team could be.

After that three-game winning streak, North Branford dropped a 9-4 decision to Haddam-Killingworth. DeLizio said the team studied the game intently and noticed numerous errors.

The players remembered that loss and wanted to use it as motivation if the T-Birds faced H-K again in the Shoreline Conference Tournament.

The Thunderbirds entered Shorelines as the No. 5 seed and claimed an 8-4 win versus Coginchaug in the first round. The T-Birds then got their rematch against H-K in the semifinals and won the contest by a 5-0 score. DeLizio said it was one of the best defensive games that he’s ever seen any team play. Then in the final, North Branford notched a 7-2 victory over Old Lyme to take home its seventh-straight Shoreline crown.

“We told the girls that if they wanted to win this, they would have to play in three championship games,” said DeLizio. “We played very well against Coginchaug. We played excellent defense. The girls wanted a crack at H-K. They were dying to play them. They did not let up. We knew we matched up well against Old Lyme. We played defense, we pitched. Next thing you know, the girls were holding the trophy and raising up the banner.”

After winning the conference championship, North Branford entered the Class S State Tournament as the No. 15 seed, defeating No. 18 Wolcott Tech (12-0) and

No. 2 Civic Leadership (22-0) in the first two rounds. The T-Birds went on to claim a 9-2 victory against No. 7 Shepaug Valley in the quarterfinals on a day that included a long bus drive following North Branford’s senior trip.

North Branford went on to post a 4-2 victory versus No. 3 seed Coginchaug in the Class S semifinals. The T-Birds then took a 3-0 defeat to top-seeded Cromwell in the championship game. Despite the loss, Coach DeLizio said that this year’s edition of the Thunderbirds proved that they were a talented team and gained valuable knowledge that will benefit the returning players next year.

“Yes, we went 13-7 in the regular season, but the teams we played helped prepare us for the State Tournament. Especially coming off the Shoreline championship, the girls were ready to take the next step forward,” DeLizio said. “This is the second-consecutive state championship game appearance for the sophomores and juniors. To have two chances and returning a lot of talent, the girls will be hungry.”

At the beginning of the season, the T-Birds were still relishing in their success from the previous campaign. Coach DeLizio turned to the seniors and told them that it was their time now and that they needed to lead. DeLizio said the seniors took those words to heart and ultimately steered North Branford’s ship in the right direction.

“Heading into the season, we kind of had last year’s hangover of going to the State championship. But I told the seniors that this is their team now,” said DeLizio. “You can’t dwell on last year. You have to be good leaders and help us play to our full potential. It was a process, but it worked. The girls achieved their goals this year.”

The Thunderbirds’ four senior captains for the 2022 season were outfielder Bella Hills, first baseman Gianna DePino, catcher Hanna Senerchia, and outfielder Lauren Ackerman. Senerchia missed most of the season due to an injury. Ackerman then became a captain after showing how selfless she is by volunteering to catch at the JV level. With Nichole Gomez also a key member of the senior class, Coach DeLizio said the leadership of that group proved crucial to North Branford’s success this season.

Ackerman earned All-Shoreline Conference Honorable Mention after hitting .360 with 32 hits, 33 runs scored, 8 RBI, and 16 stolen bases on the year. DePino had 15 hits with 15 RBI and 21 runs scored for North Branford. Hills posted a .333 average with 27 hits, including 3 three home runs, to go with 24 RBI and 21 runs scored. Hills received the team’s Desire and Dedication Award at the end of the season.

Sophomore Lindsey Onofrio was named to the All-Shoreline Conference Second Team. Onofrio hit at a .346 clip with 7 doubles and a .615 slugging percentage this year. Freshman Lexi Falcioni recorded a .369 batting average with a .460 on-base percentage, 6 triples, and 34 runs scored. Sophomore Natalia Lucibello hit 4 home runs and had 32 RBI for the T-Birds.

Hills and sophomore Kiley Mullins both saw time on the mound for North Branford during the season. Mullins became the T-Birds’ primary pitcher and finished the year with an 18-7 record and a 2.43 ERA to go with 181 strikeouts en route to receiving All-Shoreline Conference Second Team accolades and North Branford’s Most Valuable Player Award. After some early struggles, Mullins found her stride and gained confidence on the mound, proving a huge boon for the Thunderbirds’ success.

“Kiley grew as a pitcher. In the beginning of the season, there was a miscommunication between what pitch I called and what was thrown. Once we figured that out, we hit our stride,” Coach DeLizio said. “She gained a lot of confidence. Her screwball became so effective. She wasn’t afraid to go inside. Any contact that was hit was weak. She was pitching very well.”

When North Branford returns to the field next season, Coach DeLizio wants the T-Birds to understand that “competition replaces complacency.” DeLizio doesn’t want his players to rest on their laurels of past success. In order for the team to continue its winning ways, DeLizio said that North Branford’s athletes have to treat each game as the most important one and compete with the will to win every contest.

As he looks back at the 2022 season, Coach DeLizio will always remember how hard his players worked on their way on their way to accomplishing so much on the diamond, DeLizio will also remember all the bus rides, pizza parties, and everything else that made this year’s team special. While the T-Birds always had the postseason on their minds, DeLizio said that North Branford’s athletes made sure that they enjoyed themselves while playing the sport they love alongside their teammates.

“This team was very fun. We had a lot of laughs. As serious as it could be, you play this game because it’s fun,” said DeLizio. “The bus rides were fun. Going out for pizza or ice cream. We had a lot of memories this year. The girls can look back and say they put in the time and gave their all this year. No regrets. It was a fun group of girls to be around.”

The North Branford softball team’s roster for the 2022 season featured senior captains Lauren Ackerman, Gianna DePino, Bella Hills and Hanna Senerchia; senior Nichole Gomez; junior Tess Juniver; sophomores Kiley Mullins, Lindsey Onofrio, Gabrielle Senerchia, Natalia Lucibello, and Gianna Fico; and freshmen Adriana Hills, Gabriella Bigio, Julianna Onofrio, Lexi Falcioni and Lily Ardito.