Printer Friendly Version - NH Softball Locked In and Loaded to Shoot for Title Gold

After a First Team All-SCC selection in 2023, junior Alyssa DiGiovanna is back for another spring with the North Haven softball team as its leadoff hitter and center fielder/shortstop. Photo by Wesley Bunnell/The Courier

Senior Reece Hebert amassed 11 wins in the pitching circle last year for the Nighthawks’ softball squad and is off to another sound start this season as the team’s ace. Photo by Wesley Bunnell/The Courier

The North Haven softball team had a storybook season last spring with a regular season filled with perfection. And while that did not lead to any playoff hardware for the squad, the Nighthawks have shown their focus and determination on redemption by storming out of 2024’s starting gates.

Under the direction of co-Head Coaches Vinny Cretella and Sarah Lombardi last spring, North Haven completed a perfect regular season with a mark of 20-0. With that unblemished mark, the Nighthawks ascended to the top seed for both the SCC and Class L State Tournaments. First up, in the conference draw, North Haven took care of No. 8 West Haven with a 15-3 win, and then edged out 5th-seeded Cheshire 5-3 in the semifinals before a tough 7-6 loss to No. 6 Amity.

For the states bracket, the Nighthawks received a first-round bye for their efforts prior to an eight-inning 2-1 triumph over No. 16 Berlin in the second round. The team then lost a 1-0 heartbreaker in 10 frames to No. 9 Ellington to finish 23-2 overall.

After dropping its Opening Day contest, North Haven has sprinted out to a 8-1 mark following eight-straight victories after a Opening Day defeat.

The Nighthawks know that while they are certainly hungry for that championship gold, they are the envy of several squads in the SCC. Yet North Haven recognizes that pressure, and they run towards it by also utilizing the regular season to scout potential state postseason opponents.

“Obviously, last year we had the dream year with having an undefeated regular season,” said Head Coach Vinny Cretella, who is assisted by Coach Sarah Lombardi. “We obviously have a bullseye on our back from last year. The SCC Conference is the best in the state, and every game is tough. We have also scheduled out-of-conference games against stronger schools to see better pitching, so it will better us for a state tournament run. We have a very close-knit bunch of girls. They all get along on and off the field and are so easy to coach.”

Experience is certainly on the Nighthawks’ side this spring. They have 11 returning players with six seniors, four juniors, and one sophomore from last year‘s varsity club. Senior captain and catcher Izzy Blanchard played second base last year and has done a great job on both sides of the field, already throwing out four base runners with a home run and 10 RBI.

Her sister and fellow senior captain Gabby Blanchard will be part of the infield while showcasing her arm as a pitcher. She has roped in four RBI in five games. Classmate Reece Hebert is another starting hurler, having captured 11 victories in 2023 and is 5-1 for 2024 through appearances through six showings. Nina Demanatto is also a utility athlete as a pitcher and outfielder, and first baseman. Two additional senior outfielders in Avery Berney (sporting a homer and five RBI in the first 5 games) and Ava Carlson (two home runs and six RBI in opening 5 contests) have certainly shined the lumber already.

“Gabby is a versatile player; she can play any position,” said Cretella. “Reese Hebert is always consistent as a pitcher and always wants the ball. Nina Demanatto is a versatile player. She can play the outfield, first base, and pitches. They all possess strong leadership qualities on and off the field, and they have done a great job at fundraising for the team. They all lead by example. Our other two senior outfielders, Avery Berney and Ava Carlson, have come out and play hard every day.”

In the junior class ranks, North Haven welcomes back reigning Team MVP and First Team All-SCC selection in Alyssa DiGiovanna–doubling as a center fielder and shortstop while being at the top of the batting order. Alyssa Ferriouolo is at third, plus Alex Anquillare (having collected nine RBI and a homer in 2024 in 5 games) also shifted positions from outfield to first. Lastly, the lone returning sophomore Emilia Brandi will help solidify the middle infield at second base.

“Alyssa DiGiovanna is our leadoff batter with a lot of speed and can hit for power,” said Cretella. “Alyssa Ferriouolo is another dynamic player who can play anywhere on the field. She’s our starting third baseman who can hit for power and average; she practices as hard as she plays. Alex Anquillare has moved from the outfield to first base, and she is another player who can wreck a game with her bat. [Junior] Ava Shamett is another outfielder who has grown as a player, and she already has three hits in the young year. Emilia Brandi has worked really hard during the winter and has five hits on the year already, another athletic player.”

In terms of season objectives, the Nighthawks would like to return to the conference championship game and reach the state final. Still, they know things are not consumed in one lump sum, and so they must solely focus on one day at a time and build the foundation from there.

“Our goals for the season as usual is to win our division, next to win the SCC championship, and hopefully try to win the state championship,” Cretella said. “But we take one game at a time.”

The 2024 North Haven roster is made up of seniors Ninamarie DeMennato, Berney, Gabriella Blanchard, Hebert, Isabella Blanchard, Brooklyn Bonner; juniors Lana Cervero, Anquillare, Ferriouolo, Shamett, Makayla Mongillo, Isasbella Crouch, Liliana Anderson, DiGiovanna; plus sophomores Brandi, Lauren Petruzzelli, and Giavana Morgillo.