2026 Softball State Champs - Cheverus High School

Coach John Eisenhart, as well as players Sadie Collins, Anna Goodman, Cameron Gagnon, Anna Kennedy-Jensen, Addison DeRoche and Hailey Lamontagne, discuss the tougher-than-expected championship game, the road to the title and how far the Cheverus program has come in recent seasons.

Transcript

SPEAKER_06 0:00

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SPEAKER_00 0:32

Well, what a wonderful uh end uh to your uh your I guess your season, if you will. I mean before we uh get into this one, you get uh you get any summer plans and I know you're gonna read a ton of books.

SPEAKER_06 0:46

I will read a ton of books and I will get to the beach quite a bit. I got uh family coming in. Uh these two months will go very quickly, they always do. I think August 17th will be here before you know it, and then it's 2 days and all the ports of practices and back we go. But uh yeah, the the downtime is is precious and it's awesome, and I love it, and don't get me wrong, I love what I do, but you know, getting the time to recharge is great.

SPEAKER_00 1:09

So when you're reading, you go top to bottom left to right. Is that how you do that?

SPEAKER_06 1:12

Uh generally, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:14

How you do that. How many books are how many books are you gonna get in this summer?

SPEAKER_06 1:16

Hopefully 2025. That's usually the goal. I I I like to have a novel and a and a nonfiction going at the same time, like a good sporting book and a good novel. Yeah, that's a perfect world for me. So yeah, and honestly, I don't have a lot of time to read otherwise, so I I cram them in when I can.

SPEAKER_00 1:31

Yeah, that's awesome. I don't know how to go.

SPEAKER_06 1:39

It probably helps a little.

SPEAKER_00 1:40

Yeah, I can I can I can talk to people. I uh uh the reading thing will help me read to sleep on the page and wake up with uh, you know, my wife will have some sort of uh design in my chat with a uh you know sunscreen. But uh I guess um better tweet for me uh because we have to now talk about my brother And I know how proud you are. I know it's not it's not him. I'm very very proud of my I I guess I'm excited because I I get the privilege of hearing my brother talk about this room again. And you know, he already gets a bad round a lot of the times because you're a private tool and then naturally and you get into all the families and he gets into all the families and he gets into all the kids really, really well. And in the end of it, you know, they're all they're all trying for the same thing, they're all battling for the same stuff. And uh I think that's what he loves and most about it, and uh you really, really love it as hard to get it.

SPEAKER_06 2:40

And it's a great group, and not not only were they phenomenal, but yeah, uh you know the players are junior and the showed up there as a freshman, and and she had a fabulous year, a fabulous playoff run. And uh it's just amazing how much of a team this was though, because they needed contributions from a lot of different people. You know, the top of the order didn't really hit that well during the postseason. It was the bottom of the order, it was uh you know, unexpected players like uh and Kennedy Jensen uh players like that that delivered really big time we had and um you know it took a little while to get going against Gorman and that game was like a little fourth. Um, that day game was much much closer than anyone anticipated against Hamden Academy. I think most of us honestly gave the Zodium Panat, although some of the folks they probably would agree. I think they thought it was gonna be a relatively easy win. Just because they they had rolled everybody, sure. And this was a Handon Academy team that was 10 and 6 in the regular season. You know, they were on a night playoff run, but no one really thought that they would uh take them to the tow into the seventh inning, and they did. They wound up being a one-run game, time run at the second base, and whoever that gets out of it wins their second title in three years going undefeated in the process of avenging last year's team, you know, which was a championship worthy team. They lost they were also undefeated until the regional final and they lost and win them so this team did not lack for motivation, and um you know they they were the best team all year.

SPEAKER_00 4:00

I I love that uh the back end of the order. It's always been a coaching philosophy of mine that you teach UT7 through 12 as hard if not harder than your you know, your one through seven and uh I know I know I know the kids were on, but it was a very, very way too competitive when we were growing up and played on some of the high level teams and uh you know I know Dotty, I thought her with a daughter, and it was like, you know, you love seeing the kid that maybe it was on his own all the time and I love that.

SPEAKER_06 4:34

Right, and she's been a key member of the team, she just hadn't played a lot as a sophomore junior and wasn't in those positions to be the header, and then she doesn't see the moment and you know, you you love to see that at any level. And you know you can know the bottom of the. I mean, how often do you see at every level and based at all? You know, how many headers you get if you get to the bottom of the order, maybe you relax a little bit, or you you know you get around a sort of header and you think, okay, you know, maybe I'm I'm out of this inning now. And then I guess you know that's all demoralizing when that player comes up with a big head. And that's how these games are won and lost, they just wing on ones that you know, they they they can turn on one's on the bat, and that uh that was the case all postseason and uh you know at the end that where everything came easily during the regular season, they really had to work for it. And you know, especially if the playoffs went on, that's how it should be. And it's more gratifying that way. And I'm sure it wasn't overwriting. There were probably some gray hairs and dudes, but sweet to win a game like that as your final game and to validate that hand.

SPEAKER_00 5:27

Yeah, I mean I my brother's got blonde hair. So he he he does it very well, but uh, you know, he I did it hard to imagine and he was uh very he was excited for the kid. But uh you know and inevitably and at the end of the game.

SPEAKER_06 6:16

No, they I mean that that was a regular season record, so they they had one you know the three regional tournament games. Yeah, I think the last two was an underdog. Yeah, um, and there wasn't a crossover, right? Because Hamden Academy and Chevrolets met in that game. I think there was only one Hamden Academy player that had played in that game. Okay, uh but you know, you had Kylie Lambson and Anna Goodman for uh Abby Kelly for Shevers. You know, that that didn't go unnoticed that they had met in in late February in that epic overtime win for Shevard. Um but no, I mean Hamden Academy just really wasn't on anyone with radar uh during the regular season. And you know, and and Trevor's had to get eyes on good games and Gorham and Bonnie Eagle to get to the eight game. So it's natural to think, all right, we've got this. And then they have this controversial call in the seventh inning. Uh and Bonnie Eagle or uh Hamden Academy scores the run to make it 3-2, but on the play, it looks like whatever's recorded that final out of the day. Yeah, uh which I didn't know wasn't already by this tag, yeah. Uh so all of a sudden you have to go back out on the field and not only uh do this again, but all of a sudden the time run is uh head away from scoring. Who knows what happens in that situation? But uh you know, add a center ocean if you bear it down and get another egg out, and then the celebration is talking about you know, just an opportunity to talk about all that with uh not only coaches and hard with several other girls and what they've accomplished all year. You know, I mentioned A Collins and a good man and other captain, uh and a Kennedy Jones and another captain at the bottom of the order kind of uh unheralded a little bit uh you know she played it all well. Uh Cam Gagnon there uh their freshman lead off here was phenomenal. Uh she had a Kitty RBI in that game and the order run and then uh you know obviously that is underwater and uh Henry Vamonte and the other uh the other captain. Um a lot of uh great perspective on a game that was uh kind of crazy and not when anyone expected, but uh you know the team everyone expected to wind up uh you know holding up dead.

SPEAKER_00 8:14

I mean you had the radio happening regardless of what happened, you just took one of the best pitchers in the country under the dissidents and you're uh you were a breath away, so I think you capital into an an underground like that. Right.

SPEAKER_06 8:29

I think just a couple years ago wasn't really even on the map as a hotball program. And you know, the last three years and you know, they're a one-run loss away to wind them away from winning three three titles. This is two out of three, they'll be the heavy favorite again next year. Uh but they'll never forget this championship game because it wasn't easy. And uh yeah, you know, like I said, coach and all those players, they they really have some great things to say about all this. Awesome. Let's take a listen. Congratulations. Good to see you. So, what are the emotions? I know it was kind of a wild ending the other day, and you got to celebrate twice, and just just how gratifying is it to win a game that close?

SPEAKER_03 9:04

Uh I mean, obviously it was just like we don't get many games like that, we don't get a lot of competitive games, so to just have that in the C game was awesome. I mean, obviously everyone's a little bit nervous, but I almost like love that. It just makes you feel so much more like into it. Like you want to be the lab's team, you want to obviously win, but just all those like little steps of like being nervous.

SPEAKER_06 9:26

You knew you were gonna have a good team. Are you surprised at just how dominant you guys were? I mean, you the run differential is insane.

SPEAKER_03 9:32

Yeah, it is. I mean, I was always very confident in us, like I've said, literally since our first practice, I knew that we had this counts come as far, it was just whether we kept focused and say uh we all wanted it.

SPEAKER_06 9:46

How nice is it that maybe unexpected girls were the ones that came through with the playoffs, like Sadie, for instance.

SPEAKER_03 9:51

Yeah, I thought I was obviously we all know what CD said we've all seen three times. I think that it's all CD like a season that has a lot of opportunities uh have those big moments on these big stages.

SPEAKER_06 10:02

She seemed like she was right. I mean, she those two uphits are unbelievable.

SPEAKER_03 10:05

Yeah, they were. It was awesome. I think those are two of the moments from the loudest.

SPEAKER_06 10:12

Could you tell Madison was on right away?

SPEAKER_03 10:14

Oh yes. Just on the bus ride. She's always once she has her headphones on, but even her eyes like a little small must be and you know, you know.

SPEAKER_06 10:31

So were you surprised at how competitive they were?

SPEAKER_03 10:34

Yeah, I think it was obviously like that first inning where like none of us going on the third down the next thing. Um we knew they were gonna be obviously like their instance, but it's hard if you don't play them the entire year. Like you see smart teams that we've played, and obviously we're never gonna play them, but it's different when you've never seen them before.

SPEAKER_06 10:54

Uh so you're up 3-1 going to the seven. It looks like you guys are in pretty good shape. Yeah. But it got a little uh got a little hairy there at the end.

SPEAKER_03 11:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 11:02

How were you able to bounce back after that obstruction call when you already already had celebrated once?

SPEAKER_03 11:08

Yeah, I mean obviously we're all competitive, we all were frustrated with this call, but this is like in your medicine was gonna take care of business. I had a lot of confidence in her, and I had confidence in anyone's moments in that one.

SPEAKER_06 11:25

And you see that final strike out. This is it for your high school softball curve, right? So how exciting was it to win to end on a win?

SPEAKER_03 11:33

Oh my gosh, I've never been happier. That last only one is yes and the rest of the scene, and we're all the way in the episode last month.

SPEAKER_06 11:41

You came into this program when it was really not much. Yeah. And now you're the gold standard. How gratifying is that to be part of something this this incredible tournament here.

SPEAKER_03 11:49

I mean it's awesome. Like, I think that's the person here, like I mean, we aren't who we are now, so I think it's awesome to like and be grateful for that and to see where we are now, and I'm still I'm getting excited to see what they can see this year.

SPEAKER_06 12:02

So where are you going?

SPEAKER_03 12:03

I'm going to use Tampa.

SPEAKER_06 12:05

Okay. Well, this is a pretty good way to go out.

SPEAKER_04 12:11

It is, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 12:12

And you'll even find some great teammates who, you know, are probably gonna keep this going, but I mean, you have faith in them that this this wasn't the last championship, right?

SPEAKER_03 12:20

I have all the faith. I know that they want it, I know that coach is gonna keep them up to their standards. I mean, obviously we're losing a lot of great starting seniors, I think. I have fun.

SPEAKER_06 12:30

Alright. You um it couldn't have ended any other way, right? For you? I mean, you've had all these championship experiences. How how gratifying was this particular one?

SPEAKER_02 12:40

I mean every s every championship is amazing, and I think for it to be my last season at Chevrous and with this group of girls, it's just very special, and every one has been unique, but everyone's been enjoyable.

SPEAKER_06 12:54

You guys won almost all your games easily. To have to win a game that was that close and to have the controversial call and have still recover and win it. I mean how how how much does that enhance the whole experience?

SPEAKER_02 13:05

Um, I think it makes it that much sweeter. I mean, um, you know, having to work for what we got. Um I mean, we definitely did every game, but sometimes it didn't always show up on the score, but um we uh having to have that pressure, it just made it even more fun to be playing in that environment.

SPEAKER_06 13:23

You guys get to the lead early and you gotta figure with Addison you're you're home free, right? I mean you've got to feel confident.

SPEAKER_02 13:29

Yeah, I mean Addison's a great pitcher and she gets the job done for us whenever we needed her to. Um and you know, we couldn't get our bats started that um much, but I think that the fact that Addison was able to keep going under that pressure and everyone else was able to do their job offensively and defensively to get us to what we needed to win. I think that shows just how much of a great all-around team we are.

SPEAKER_06 13:52

Right, you know, Sadie, Cam, Abby with the RBIs. They might not be the first girls people think about.

SPEAKER_02 13:57

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_06 13:58

But you you had some big hits from you know, players lower in the lineup or maybe lesser-known players this whole postseason.

SPEAKER_02 14:04

Yeah, I mean, this whole season and um one through ten have we've all done our jobs and we've all had our moments where you stepped up and we've all had our moments where we needed, but you picked up by our teammates, and I think that shows in every game. And I'm just I'm really happy for everyone um who got the job done for us in the state championship because uh we couldn't have done it without some stuff.

SPEAKER_06 14:24

So walk me through the play. You guys think you're winning the championship but wound up being disallowed, but what did what did you see? What happened?

SPEAKER_02 14:31

Um sometimes calls happen that you don't 100% agree with, and I think that's just part of the game. Um it was the umpire's judgment, and that's the call he thought was.

SPEAKER_06 14:44

So he said you were obstructed? Was that the that was the issue?

SPEAKER_02 14:46

He said it was obstruction. Um I mean, off the record, I was making a play on the ball, it was an obstruction.

SPEAKER_06 14:52

No, I I saw that. Right.

SPEAKER_02 14:53

But um it was umpire's judgment, and I think um sometimes you just have to go with things like that. Um and it just kind of like healed us that much more to get the actual laps out, but yeah.

SPEAKER_06 15:08

I mean that's a huge switch of momentum. You go from game being over to suddenly the tying runs in scoring position, and and we how how we were able to folk refocus and get and get the job done.

SPEAKER_02 15:19

I mean, it was definitely like we were having like a carrot dangled in front of us and we won and then we didn't win, so I think we were all like we're not celebrating and not actually winning, so I think um we all just kind of dug in, asked Doug in about that final out for us. So I think that was just like a all-around team effort.

SPEAKER_06 15:35

What was that celebration like when it was finally official?

SPEAKER_02 15:39

It was great. I mean, all these girls just being able to like jump in a circle with them, like that's such a great feeling, and every time you get to do that, nothing beats.

SPEAKER_06 15:48

Yeah. Everyone's gonna look at your record and the scores of your games, and it looks easy, but I know it wasn't. And there were some times early in the season when coach wasn't happy with stuff. But what what got you guys to this point? What what made this team special and what made everything work?

SPEAKER_02 16:01

I mean, we all love each other, our coaches, they love to push us and we love to be pushed in practice. Um, I think everyone on our team wants to do what we need to do um to get us to be the best that we can be. Um, even the girls that didn't get as much um time in the field or at bats. They all worked hard for us in practice, and I feel like we all appreciate everything that everyone does for the team and just you know, working through the hard times but celebrating the goods.

SPEAKER_06 16:28

So you came into this program without there wasn't much success, there wasn't much history. Now you guys are clearly the best program in the state. Yes. That's gotta feel good.

SPEAKER_02 16:36

Yeah, I mean, the group of girls I've had four years with, I mean, they're all amazing, and um we all work hard, we all have gotten better, and it's been great to see everyone like improve over these past four years. Um and just being able to finish out our last year together with a win is just that much sweeter.

SPEAKER_06 16:55

Yeah, I mean I'm sure you'll be keeping a close eye on these girls. I mean, obviously Chevrolets is gonna have a great chance to do this again next year, right? And the program's in good shape.

SPEAKER_02 17:04

Yeah, I'm definitely with our coaches and the girls who are returning, they're all amazing and they all work hard in the offseason to get even better next year.

SPEAKER_06 17:12

Congrats, yes. All right. How nice is it to win a championship where you guys really had to work for it? I mean, it's uh uh winning is is great no matter what. But if you win 10-0, it's maybe not quite as gratifying.

SPEAKER_03 17:26

Yeah, yeah, no, that close game definitely kept us all mentally very much in it, and I feel like everybody leading up to it is like, oh, like Joe's gonna win, blah, blah, blah coming. But it's like to us, it's like we really have to be in every play, no matter what. Even if it's like our um first, second playoff game, and we really had to work on it, and then the score was 10 tier, it doesn't really reflect how much we had to grind. So it's just very gratifying.

SPEAKER_06 17:48

And again, you get cont contributions from a lot of maybe unexpected, you know, stage has a playoff of her life.

SPEAKER_03 17:55

Like crazy. I'm so impressively proud of her.

SPEAKER_06 17:57

And then you have a freshman drive in what proved to be the winning run, right? The insurance run. And I know she's been great all season.

SPEAKER_03 18:02

Oh, for sure. And I have gotten really close to Cam throughout the season. I'm so sad that we only got one together, but she is gonna do great things for this program.

SPEAKER_06 18:11

I mean, speaking of the program, think of where it was when you came in and where it is now. It's night and day. I mean, how that's amazing.

SPEAKER_03 18:18

I definitely think our past uh class that graduated with like Ashley and Ballastelia did a lot as well to build up the program, but it's really nice that our class got to continue with that. And and same thing with Addie's class, like they're gonna do great things as well.

SPEAKER_06 18:32

Talk about the end of the game or the first part of the end of the game. I mean, how how tough is that when you think you guys can't find your glove, right? Because you're all celebrating, you're throwing your gloves at the team. And then all of a sudden you have to continue.

SPEAKER_03 18:54

Like, holy crap, this is real.

SPEAKER_06 18:56

And that that Addison gets that last strikeout. And then you guys can really finally celebrate.

SPEAKER_03 19:01

Finally, for the real time this time, yeah. It was great. Um also just like getting to do it again, prove it again. I mean, it was working asked for that.

SPEAKER_06 19:10

No, I mean it's it's a remarkable story. You guys were so good all year. I mean, I know you knew this was good, but are you surprised that you were so dumb?

SPEAKER_03 19:18

Um, yeah, I definitely during like captain's practices was the first time I really realized like our incoming talent as well, like tenting and camps, I'm sure. But I mean a bunch of us seniors really doing like captain's practices, so we got the benefit of working and like building those interpersonal relationships for so long, like even in the winter. So it's like our trip to Florida really helps on that. Because like skills can only bring you so far.

SPEAKER_06 19:41

So what are your plans for next year?

SPEAKER_03 19:43

I'm going to campus.

SPEAKER_06 19:44

Okay. Exciting. And you're going to Greece this summer, or does that I am too? So you're leaving behind some great teammates who are going to keep this program near the top, right? I'm sure you'll be keeping a close eye on them next year.

SPEAKER_03 19:57

The second I'm home from school, you know I'm coming to all the games. Yeah. And I mean you see that with like the seniors last year, many of them came and supported us.

SPEAKER_06 20:06

Well, it's it's fun to watch. It's good stuff. So it's definitely fun to watch. Wow, that was uh that was not easy the other day, huh?

SPEAKER_03 20:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 20:23

Does it mean more? I mean, it'd be great to win 10-0, right? But people have it literally come down to the last pitch.

SPEAKER_03 20:28

Yeah, I just kept telling myself one play at a time and I kept thinking we got this together. Um, yeah, early with tight death, honestly. Not this one I don't want to see very stressful, but I'm very thankful for that in a competitive.

SPEAKER_06 20:41

And I mean, were you feeling good from the start? You know, the first three innings they were dominant.

SPEAKER_03 20:45

Yeah, it was a little dressing on the turf, but I did feel at decent. I mean, I did get a few barrels, but other than that, it was just an early lead again, right?

SPEAKER_06 20:55

She keeps coming through.

SPEAKER_03 20:56

She's so clutch, and I was just so happy for her and her like competitiveness and her energy that she brings to the dugout. Um, yeah, that's awesome.

SPEAKER_06 21:03

So they they finally got you a little bit in the fourth. What happened there?

SPEAKER_03 21:07

Um, I think the ball just was a fly ball to sunder, and then uh it just dropped in front of Haley, and then the next pitch she like it was I think it was flat inside and she just went on it. Yeah, I was just trying to my team plan just to attack and strike.

SPEAKER_06 21:22

Right.

SPEAKER_03 21:22

Like let them earn it, and I mean they did.

SPEAKER_06 21:25

So Sadie, Abby, and Cam driving runs. It's funny because you know, they're maybe not the first names people expect, but that's kind of been the story of your team, right? Is everyone contributing?

SPEAKER_03 21:35

Yeah, everybody. I mean Abby had a rough first set bat, and then she made an adjustment and she got a little jam, but it was perfect because it dropped in and was forced to run, and then Cam coming up clutch in the last inning. That's really what we needed.

SPEAKER_06 21:47

And how big is that insurance run? I mean, you guys you needed it. You needed it.

SPEAKER_03 21:50

Yeah, I mean, I could have went in extras too, but I think like knowing us and knowing that we walked it down in the last inning.

SPEAKER_06 21:58

Tell me about the play that was ultimately.

SPEAKER_03 22:03

Yeah, so it was a flyball to Cam. We jumped her in front of her, one bounce. We worked on this all year. Actually, me being the cut, so I cut it off. And then I was like knew I wasn't gonna get her at home, so then I saw her like in the corner running like second, and Anna and it was a large gap, and I just threw it and it was there very early, like very much of the time, and Anna got the tag on it. I was like, okay, I guess that's the third out, like not the best, but yeah, and then I guess everything just happened, and then I we were all celebrating, and then I was like, oh no, like we got it. Yeah, our coaches did a really good job just calming us down. I got a drink of water, I throw it a temple a few more times. Um but yeah, I just love our like facing each other and just sticking to the game plan and knowing that like each pitch is the most next and was important, and in the end it resulted in a strikeout, and it got to have my favorite type of out.

SPEAKER_06 22:53

So I mean how yeah, but what was that feeling when when she swings and misses and yeah, it was like a check swing, but I think almost would have been a strike too.

SPEAKER_03 23:01

So working like outside and then Tempie got it, and I was like, I think she went and if she didn't, like I'm still gonna celebrate, but it was just awesome, and I I think it's different every celebration, like the bellow is different, and now I like jump open the air and some people did again, so it's really cool just to be surrounded by such missing people.

SPEAKER_06 23:17

So you didn't use up on your celebration there the first time, you guys were still pretty fired up.

SPEAKER_03 23:22

Yeah, I was like, I'm this means more, you know, now it means it's like people can try to knock us down, but again, it's like us against the world and we're built for this.

SPEAKER_06 23:30

Two years ago was the first time you guys had ever won, so that one was special. What's special about this year's team?

SPEAKER_03 23:35

Yeah, it's definitely different, but it's a good difference, and I think like we had so many pieces of um the puzzle, and Coach John said we'll say like it's the best line if he's coached. Um we've had so many different versatility in it, um, and our defense was so locked down, we're so close, we did so much team bonding. Um and again we were like chasing because we didn't win last year, so that was the same as much.

SPEAKER_06 23:56

Yeah, so I mean, does it make you appreciate it more, right? Because you didn't you didn't win last year and you guys couldn't have.

SPEAKER_03 24:01

I mean it's all about meeting the other team score more runs, so at the end of the day, like we scored more runs and we win, and I still watch the video like backing. It's it's very sappy, it's very emotional just because you know I know the work of all this.

SPEAKER_06 24:14

What have you learned from this senior class? We've got some great teammates and you've had a lot of them for three years.

SPEAKER_03 24:19

Yeah, I mean, they're my like best friends, they really have my back and they've done a great job since I was suppression, including me. Um, and especially like Anna KJ and Haley, those are really girls, and I mean Anna Goodman's been right there along the way as well. So us four captains worked really well together, but they just lead with a lot of leadership, um, and they're very supportive, and they did a lot for this program, especially first of the year. They turned some heads and stuff, and then me coming in is an amazing jump start as well.

SPEAKER_06 24:48

Seems like just yesterday you showed up here. Now you're you're coming up on your last year already.

SPEAKER_03 24:52

Yeah, we're sitting in the cafe for eight lunch every day. So yeah, I mean, it's it's a lot of days that seem like the same, but they all add up and you stack the days and good things turn out from it. It is stressful throughout the process, but it's really worth it.

SPEAKER_06 25:05

What do you guys think we do to win one more? Because I'm sure that's what you'd like to finish, right?

SPEAKER_03 25:09

Present, that was our model in the playoffs. If we had a precious present, um, and just making sure we touch it every practice, every game, and knowing like every pitch could be our last, um, we'll definitely have like a new vibe, but that would be an adjustment, and I'm really excited for it. I'm good, how are you?

SPEAKER_06 25:24

Have a seat. Alright, so freshman, you come in, you play a huge role on a championship team. Just how much fun have these last couple months been for you?

SPEAKER_03 25:35

Uh these last couple months have been great. I came in with one goal, and it was to contribute to this team and make plays happen. So I'm just glad that all the hard work my team and I did led to such a great season that we had.

SPEAKER_06 25:49

People are gonna look at your record and the scores and think this is easy. I know it wasn't easy. Certainly on Saturday. How gratifying is it to win a game like that as opposed to like a mercy roll game. You guys had to scratch a claw to the final out and then one more, you know?

SPEAKER_03 26:02

It was it just made it so much more exciting, and I think it made the moment more memorable because it showed all the hard work that we put in and it finally paid off. We celebrated how to go back in the field, which made our second celebration so much better.

SPEAKER_06 26:15

Yeah, and not every team gets to do that. So tell me about your bat in the seventh, you get an insurance run with Rhana being the difference in the game.

SPEAKER_03 26:23

Yeah, I just I just needed to relax, I think. I think I was thinking too much, and all I had to do was put it in play. There's only one out. And I know John and I had worked on it, you know. He'd stay after practice and come early to make sure that I felt comfortable and I was confident. So honestly, I owe that to him and to Ken Joyce down in Westbrook because they helped me with stuff that I see at the plate so I can end up putting it in the game when it matters.

SPEAKER_06 26:52

But to have a hit like that in a s in a state game, that'd be pretty thrilling.

SPEAKER_03 26:56

Yeah, I I don't know. It w it felt amazing, and I was just so happy that that ended up being the reason, one of the reasons that we won, thanks to Addison's great pitching and a Abby's hit, Sadie's hit, her base running, you know, it all just started adding up.

SPEAKER_06 27:13

Yeah. What the seniors, you they're leaving, you only had one year with them, but what what did you learn from them?

SPEAKER_03 27:19

Um honestly they're just a great group of girls, and they showed me how to persevere, how to keep my head up after, you know, not feeling great or failing at an app at I'd say. They just they're so inspiring and I just can't wait to be them when I'm senior.

SPEAKER_06 27:37

So you're gonna come you get to come back and make another run at this, I'm sure you'd love to do it again, and you have added for one more year, so what do you guys need to do to experience this feeling again?

SPEAKER_03 27:46

I just think we just need to keep putting in the hard work, coming to practice, staying after, doing extra hitting because the little things always add up.

SPEAKER_06 27:55

Yeah. Looking forward to it?

SPEAKER_03 27:57

Yeah, oh of course.

SPEAKER_06 27:59

Yeah. Season for you, huh? How m how much fun was this? It was just being such a big part of it.

SPEAKER_01 28:05

It was a really good uh good feeling. Obviously, I played in uh multiple state championships before, but this one like I've never felt like I was like part of it, so it's felt really great.

SPEAKER_06 28:14

And like you've done all postseason, you get your opportunity, and I mean that first run was huge.

SPEAKER_01 28:20

Yeah, definitely again, I wasn't looking for anything. I just went up there and had the ball. I knew that Kylie was on second and I needed to score her, so I just kind of swung the bat and hoped for the best.

SPEAKER_06 28:28

Yeah, but I mean to do it in that setting, that's gotta be pretty gratifying.

SPEAKER_01 28:32

Yeah, it definitely is. Um obviously I've never I hadn't been playing in like those big games until this year, and then getting put in them and like actually pr producing feels really great.

SPEAKER_06 28:41

Yeah, and then you score the run that won't wound up being the difference too. Yeah. That was what Cam drove you home.

SPEAKER_01 28:46

Yeah, she did. And I I got all the way to third on Tempi's fun, which I definitely scared coaches a little bit with that, but it just felt great, like knowing that I was crossing the plate and getting the insurance run.

SPEAKER_06 28:55

3-1 lead with Addison going to the bottom of the side, I mean you had to feel pretty good. But it got a little tight.

SPEAKER_01 29:01

Yeah, it did.

SPEAKER_06 29:02

So it but but is it more gratifying to win that way? I mean, it's one thing to win by the mercy roll, but you guys had to scratch and claw to the very end.

SPEAKER_01 29:08

Yeah, it definitely feels better. Obviously, everyone thinks like, oh, Trevor's is just gonna blow them out, but like having it actually be a good game in Hamden Academy, I'll give it to them. Like, they were pretty good. Obviously, we didn't hadn't seen them ever before, and I think they were really good. And it feels great, like, knowing that like we earned it and it was like a hard game, all seven innings.

SPEAKER_06 29:24

When they it looked like you guys had the game on and then all of a sudden you didn't and you had to recover from that. How hard was that? Because that's yeah it's not something most teams have to deal with ever.

SPEAKER_01 29:33

Yeah, obviously, um I actually didn't even see them call caller out, so I didn't know like I didn't celebrate, but um it was just like a weird like thing that went on, but I think it was like good knowing that like we just had to get that last out.

SPEAKER_06 29:45

And you did, and then what what's that feeling like? It's your last softball game.

SPEAKER_01 29:49

Yeah, I know. It definitely it was like probably the best feeling, like the best state championship finish I've had ever at Chevers, so and it feels great knowing that like we all did it, it was like team effort.

SPEAKER_06 29:58

Absolutely. And I mean you you came into the program, this program was nothing.

SPEAKER_01 30:02

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_06 30:02

Now you're two time champ, almost three, and I mean what's this been like?

SPEAKER_01 30:06

Yeah, obviously, um I think John did a really good job like building this team from basically the ground up. My freshman year, we weren't too bad. We had a better we had made playoffs for the first time ever, and that was obviously like great, and then Addison coming in, having her, and then having this whole team, I think our lineup goes all the way through the bench as well, so it feels it just feels great. Like this is such a team effort, and knowing that we like did build it from the ground up feels even better.

SPEAKER_06 30:28

So you didn't mess it up. Right. That was the key, right? Uh how gratifying is it though to win a state game like that as opposed to 10 nothing or something like that?

SPEAKER_05 30:36

Yeah, I mean it was uh I know the I know I know the parents would like to see a ten nothing game. I had a couple parents tell me that took some years off their lives, but um, but it was it was incredibly gr gratifying, especially with the way it ended when the kids thought they had won, and then you know the call got reversed, and then you know, the mental toughness to be able to get that out again by Addison and um so w it was just it was just incredible. And you know, we we played, you know, I tr I certainly tried to downplay it to you all season and others, but yeah, we we definitely it's hard to play with the target on your back and uh and it's hard to be perfect because it's you know it's one game, it's why they play multiple series and and and a lot of different professional sports because anything can happen on one game. Kat Pascini was incredible. Um we just got you know we had a couple of you know big two out hits. Um you know, Sadie Collins uh was really our offensive MVP in the playoffs. I mean she just was amazing for you every time.

SPEAKER_06 31:37

It seemed like and a lot of them were two out, right? Two out hits.

SPEAKER_05 31:40

Yes, yes. I mean it just with they're no just just incredible. You know, Abby Kelly had uh you know had a had a really big hit there too, so was really um was really great and uh RBI.

SPEAKER_02 31:56

Yeah, Cam, right?

SPEAKER_05 31:59

Oh yeah, Cameron, Cameron with a game winner. Yeah, yeah. And Cam Cam uh Cam had a great she had a great staking. She hit she smashed the heck out of the ball in the first inning, lined it right up the pitcher, and they made a nice play to get her, but she hit the ball. She had great at bats in that staking.

SPEAKER_06 32:16

You know Windham well, you know a lot of these league teams well. Go up against a team that really came from nowhere. Yeah. I mean, how how did you guys prepare for that? And were you surprised how competitive they were?

SPEAKER_05 32:26

Yeah, yeah, I I uh when watching the uh and you know, I scouted them, I was able to watch a couple of their games online, and um, you know, uh I really thought that you know if we played well we would win. Um and I don't think we went in, you know, feeling overconfident or anything like that. We knew that we were gonna face a really tough pitcher. Um but I would say they played very, very well. And they had, you know, a couple of those players had really good at bats against you know, just an incredible pitcher. So um, you know, it was I but I'm being honest, it was a lot harder than probably in my belly I I I thought it was gonna be. Absolutely, and you guys hadn't pushed to the wire like this all season.

SPEAKER_06 33:09

Correct, correct.

SPEAKER_05 33:09

Yeah, tying run on base. Yeah, yeah, I mean that was you know, that was you had runner in second, you know, with uh and you had to get that girl right there, and you know anything can happen. The uh the win was a real factor in the game. You know, we had I had the outfielders playing deep, and uh we had one they had one ball that kind of dropped in because I played the outfielders deep, and thought was I'd rather have it fall in front of them than than get behind them because Addison's very, very difficult to score on. So but you think about the season, we had four runs total scored against us, and two of them were in that game. So you gotta you gotta give Hampton Academy a lot of credit.

SPEAKER_06 33:44

Absolutely, and I mean you knew this team was good had the potential to be special at the start of the year. But early on you had to address a few things. I mean, did they respond the way you hoped to from what that Westbrook posts?

SPEAKER_05 33:55

Yeah, we saw you at the Westbrook team, and I I wasn't I w I wasn't happy with uh the team chemistry at that point. Uh the things that I really try to emphasize as a coach. Um, you know, we won the game eight to nothing, but I was I wasn't happy with with the way things were going, you know, and um and the team, you know, really got on them and the team uh responded really well after that. And uh they really showed you know tremendous care towards one another. Um and I think that's so incredibly important in those close games. And you know, it really showed the other day, you know, you know, we uh I said, you know, uh Abby Kelly fisted that thing with you know with with uh you know, just was incredible. Uh you know, s Sadie what she did, and you know, you can't can't, you know, um you gotta go up there and feel like your team has your back, you know, and I think that's why I really try to, you know, emphasize that as a coach and and um I want them to truly you know embody that as a team and so so if you have that on your team you you can't fail, right? You they got your back no matter what.

SPEAKER_06 35:05

So this keeps raising the bar, which is impossible. The bar is so stratospheric, but yeah, just what an unbelievable season by her and you know coming up big when she has to.

SPEAKER_05 35:17

Yeah, 258 strikeouts and 104 innings is incredible. Yeah, she she had to make so many, you know, big pitchers, especially at the end of the game. You know, the emotional roller coaster that uh that she was on that she was you know that that she was on, the team was on after you know after the call was reversed was just to show the mental toughness of the team.

SPEAKER_06 35:41

Yeah, what what was your message to the kid? Because you got a chance to talk to them for a minute, right? Yeah, yeah. So I wanted to.

SPEAKER_05 35:47

Yeah, and that was that was it. It was really just we talked about it all year long, um, you know, about that it takes about six seconds to get the ball back uh and get back in the circle, engage the the rubber, and um it's and you know, that was the message. Like this is what we've been working on all year. All right, reset, you know, we can do this. Um and uh you know, and Addy just did it. You know, she uh she got ahead really quick and then we we called it kind of an we'll call it an X pitch. It's like just a a rise that's out of the zone that that looks really good coming in, and then it's completely out of the zone, and and uh she she made the pitch, so um just incredible mental toughness by Adson.

SPEAKER_06 36:27

Yeah, two years ago was the first time, so that one's always gonna be special. Yeah. What's unique about this year, this championship run?

SPEAKER_05 36:33

Yeah, I mean, you know, I wasn't even thinking that um, you know, about an undefeated season at any point. I just I was like, oh yeah, that's right. I really, I really was we're so I I think the kids did a really good job focusing one game at a time, you know, one at bat at a time. Um, you know, what's special about this team for me is this is my fourth year here. Um I saw the senior class come in as freshmen. Um, you know, just you know, you spend four years in the springtime together. You know, for me, I go watch all their other sports and just get to know them as people, you know, their parents, and you know, tonight is our banquet, and uh, you know, it's really hard to say goodbye to these kids. I I really you know I really do think of them like uh you know like you know, like my daughters. You know, they're they're not my daughters, you know. I I love my my girls, but but they you know the I'll I'll miss them. I really truly will miss them. I don't know how teachers do it when they say goodbye to a classroom at the end of the year, you know, just uh just the the the love that I feel for them is is tremendous and uh and uh you know I'll uh I I hope that and pray to God that I'll cross past with them in uh in their future. Right.

SPEAKER_06 37:49

A lot of great players coming back. Yeah. You know, you guys are gonna be wearing the bullseye again, and and the I mean the standard has been established now. Yeah. It's not easy, but yeah, you know, you've got this program's where it's perpetually competing for championships, right?

SPEAKER_05 38:01

I mean you look at you know, you obviously you've got Addison coming back, and then you two the two freshmen played incredible. Uh uh Teppy Lovejoy and Cam Gagman were were outstanding for us this year, and we really really couldn't have done it without them. Um and and then you know Abby Kelly comes back, and Matty Brown is a big uh a big part of this team, and then you know, Michael, we have a lot of good players that don't play in R C D. So and then we gotta from what I hear, we got a we got a good uh three-profit freshman coming in. So so you know, you you can uh you can certainly build a winning team around Addison DeRoche, you know. So um so yeah, we'll we'll be we'll be uh I think the team will be tough to beat, and the whole idea is uh is uh is is to be a perennially you know tough team. Um and I I think we will be again next year.

SPEAKER_06 38:51

Think about what Trevor softball was three years ago when you got here. Yeah. Now you're the gold standard, you're the best team in the state. Yeah, it's crazy how quickly, and I know there's you know Addison's a huge reason for that, but there's a lot of other factors too.

SPEAKER_05 39:03

Yeah, I mean I think I think back to um you know that my first year, you know, we had the players like Ashley Potter and Bell and Paletano and Delia Tremble come in, you know, and then that's followed by you know the senior class that we have now, you know. And uh I remember one of the coaches when I became the head coach, uh they said, Yeah, I think Travis is gonna win it in a couple of years, you know. And and uh and I had really had no idea, Michael, because I had been out of it with my girls getting out of it. And uh so so you know, certainly, you know, uh didn't really, you know, I didn't know I I said this, I didn't know who Addison Dero was, you know. Um but but you know I I knew I knew we had a lot of great kids from that my first year that were coming back, you know, Hick Healy, Claimontane, KJ and Goodman, you know, these are St. Collins, these are really, really good softball players that I knew were coming back. So um I felt like we'd have a good team, had no idea, was just excited to get back into coaching, you know, um coaching softball. And I I would just say like Philly Goodman and I talk about all the time, like you you know the the failure to get coaching, the competitiveness, uh relationships we can build up because you know money you can't find out. Um