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04/20/2023 11:24 AMThe North Haven softball team has a mix of fresh faces and veterans this season, but a commonality among everyone involved is their desire to make a deep postseason run. Whether someone is a senior who’s been on the team all four years or is a freshman just starting out, they all have the same goal in mind.
Vin Cretella and Sarah Lombardi coach the Nighthawks; they serve as co-head coaches in their first year with the team. Lombardi played softball for the Nighthawks when she was in high school and hopes to share some of that experience with the current players.
North Haven has two senior captains in Kayla Balisciano (catcher/outfielder), and Maria Lockery (shortstop). Both have leadership qualities they bring to the diamond that can help put their team in a position to succeed.
“They have been starting varsity since their freshman year. They are leaders vocally both on and off the field,” said Lombardi. “They are running all of their fundraisers, the two of them, handling everything by themselves. They are both just leaders on and off the field.”
Cretella added on by saying that the Nighthawks have a close-knit squad this year that will lean on Balisciano and Lockery to lead them.
The Nighthawks compete in the Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC) and Class L. North Haven opened its season on April 3, when they defeated the Staples Wreckers at home by a score of 11-6. Alex Anquliere (sophomore, first base) hit a three-run home run. Alyssa DiGiovanna (sophomore, centerfielder) went 3-4 and had three runs batted in (RBIs), while Alyssa Ferriouolo (sophomore, second base) went 3-4 with two RBIs. Lockery went 2-3, and Reese Hebert (junior, pitcher) had 10 strikeouts.
“Hebert is one of our main pitchers and is one of our starting pitchers. Gabby Blanchard (junior) is our other pitcher. Both of them are mainstay,” said Cretella. “We also have another pitcher Ninamarie “Nina” Demannato (junior). So far, she has not really gotten in, but we do plan on using her against other schools.”
On April 5, the Nighthawks played against the Shelton Gaels on the road and grabbed a commanding 17-2 win. Blanchard had five strikeouts and went 2-4, Juliana “Jules” Galasso (senior, right fielder) went 2-3 and had four RBIs, Izzy Blanchard (junior, catcher) went 2-4 with four RBIs, and Avery Berney (junior, left fielder) went 2-3. Anquliere scored four times during the game.
The Nighthawks then went on to play the Lauralton Hall Crusaders on April 8, grabbing another road victory (11-3). Hebert pitched, walking off the mound with 11 strikeouts. Galasso went 4-4, Blanchard went 3-4 and had two RBIs, and Lockery went 2-3.
The next game was against the Foran Lions on April 10, a contest in which the Nighthawks showed resilience and won a 3-2 game in come-from-behind fashion.
“We were down 2-0, and then we had a big game-winning three-run home run by Balisciano,” said Cretella. “It was the go-ahead in the fifth inning.”
Lombardi went on to add that North Haven also had stellar pitching by Gabby Blanchard.
On April 12, the Nighthawks played the Daniel Hand Tigers, walking off the field with their first shutout win of the year, a 7-0 final in front of their home fans.
“In the first inning, we scored six runs, and then we were complacent the second half of the game,” said Cretella. “Reese pitched another shutout but gave away three hits.”
Anquliere went 3-4 with three RBIs, while Blanchard, Balisciano, and Lockery all recorded an RBI each.
The Nighthawks have been dominant on the field so far with their starting nine lineup of Balisciano, Lockery, Anquliere, Gabby Blanchard, Galasso, Berney, Izzy Blanchard, DiGiovanna, and Ferriouolo.
Lombardi noted that Emelia Brandi (freshman) is going to be a player to watch for the next few years as she continues to progress and grow as a player. Ava Shamett (sophomore, outfielder), and Mia O’Brien (senior, outfielder) round out the Nighthawks roster.
With several freshmen on the team this spring, Cretella hopes to see them learn from the upperclassmen and be able to shape themselves into strong leaders going forward for future classes of players.
“Our freshmen are learning from our seniors and juniors on how we do things. In the future, that is what we are going to ask of them, to do the same thing,” said Cretella. “When the next class comes up, they are going to have to lead by example. All of these girls on the team are a close-knit group; they play together and hang out off the field.”
There are 13 returning players, including five seniors, four juniors, and four sophomores, plus one freshman who will be playing varsity.
Last year, the Nighthawks made it to the Class L State Tournament second round, where they played the Masuk Panthers and lost 4-0. Every player on the current roster has a goal of building on that success and taking it even further this campaign.
“They want it; all the returners, they really want it this year. They saw how successful they were last year and realized how much more successful they can be this year,” said Lombardi. “I think they just also really want it.”
Cretella mentioned that this team plays hard, every player on the team is athletic, and they are versatile, all qualities that a winning team possesses.
As the Nighthawks continue to trek through the confines of the SCC, Cretella is preaching to the girls to take it one day at a time and focus on winning along the way.
“Our goal is to always win the state championship, but one thing at a time—win our division when we go to the SCCs, one game at a time,” said Cretella.
Cretella and Lombardi are assisted by a volunteer helper, Joe Coletta, who has been with the program for a long time.
The Nighthawks full team roster is comprised of Balisciano, Lockery, Galasso, O’Brien, Demannato, Berney, Gabby Blanchard, Herbert, Izzy Blanchard, Brooklyn Bonner (junior), Anquliere, Lana Cervero (sophomore), Ferriouolo, Shamett, Makayla Mongollo (sophomore), Isabella Crouch (sophomore), Liliana Anderson (sophomore), DiGiovanna, Brandi, Lauren Petruzzelli (freshman), and Giavana Morgillo (freshman).
Nighthawks Softball 2023 Schedule
Monday April 17: vs Mercy at 3:45 p.m.
Wednesday April 19: vs Sheehan at 3:45 p.m.
Friday April 21: vs Hamden at 3:45 p.m.
Monday April 24: vs Branford at 4:15 p.m.
Wednesday April 26: vs Lauralton Hall at 7 p.m.
Friday April 28: vs Shelton at 7 p.m.
Monday May 1: vs Foran at 3:45 p.m.
Wednesday May 3: vs Daniel Hand at 4 p.m.
Friday May 5: vs East Haven at 7 p.m.
Monday May 8: vs Mercy at 7 p.m.
Wednesday May 10: vs Sheehan at 7 p.m.
Monday May 15: vs Hamden at 7 p.m.
Tuesday May 16: vs Branford at 7 p.m.
Thursday May 18: vs Lyman Hall at 3:45 p.m.