THE MITCHELL FILES: Former Coventry Star Liz Mitchell Reflects On Her Career and Her Future

It's been two years since Elizabeth Mitchell pitched and hit Coventry High School to the state championship.

She certainly hasn't rested on her laurels since then.

For two years, Mitchell has pitched at Eastern Connecticut State University, leading the Warriors through the Little East Conference where she was not just 2025's LEC Rookie of the Year, but also this past spring's LEC Pitcher of the Year, as well.

So what is she doing in the transfer portal? Well, we'll let Mitchell tell you.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:09

Welcome everyone to the Inside Corner Connecticut Softball Podcast with John Nash. I'm Rob Adams and uh John, another summer edition, fortunately under cooler conditions.

SPEAKER_00 0:20

Yeah, finally, thank goodness. I know uh two weeks' worth or two days' worth of Little League uh state final fours have been postponed, but uh they played tonight, so we'll hold off on them for another story. Uh today we got a little bit of breaking news from one of the most prolific pitchers uh in the state of Connecticut, uh former Coventry star, former Eastern Connecticut State University star, Elizabeth Mitchell. Eliz, thanks for joining us.

SPEAKER_02 0:49

Thanks for having me, guys.

SPEAKER_00 0:51

And let's jump right into the breaking news, which I did not know about until I, you know, you and I spoke uh to set this up. But you have entered the transfer portal after your sophomore year at ES at ECSU. And obviously you're coming off a year where you were the Little East Conference pitcher of the year. The year before that, you were the league's rookie of the year. What's going on? Why the transfer? You know, I know Coach Pepin left, but uh kind of what's going on where you're you're looking for another school.

SPEAKER_02 1:21

Yeah, um, just kind of playing it safe right now since I didn't know who our coach is gonna be. Um and we did the interview process and I just wasn't sure, so I just wanted to, you know, put my name out in the portal, just see who's interested and things like that. I am still looking to go back to Eastern. I just wanted to like, you know, just check out my options in case, you know, I I didn't really agree with the pick of the coaches or things like that. But they did announce um the new head coach, she's from RPI, and I uh I've been uh waiting to contact her actually.

SPEAKER_00 1:56

Um so it's it's not a done deal then. You you may return to ECSU East to ECS.

SPEAKER_02 2:03

Yes, um, yeah. I was just like, you know, keeping it safe, keeping a few schools in my back pocket just to make sure, you know, I have a place to call home if I wasn't happy at Eastern.

SPEAKER_00 2:14

Gotcha. Okay. Well, what what have the uh first two years been like for you up there? I mean, obviously on the field, it's it's been nothing but success, it seems, but you know, when you left left Coventry to to go to Eastern, did it was it everything that you thought it would be?

SPEAKER_02 2:29

Um, I guess I would say so. Um it was just like it was definitely a big jump from high school to college, even like I know it's a division three level, but the hitters are better. You got we're playing again six years on uh UMass Boston. So these girls have a lot of college experience, and so it was definitely a big jump. Um I love my teammates, they're like my best friends, bridesmaids, like Coach Pep did a great job of picking those out, that's for sure. Um but you know, there was you know some bumps in the road here and there. I mean, I obviously would love to win more since we were more of like a 500 team. Um, that was like a big thing for me that you know we would lose by one run, two runs. Um, that would really drive me crazy for sure. Um, but other than that, it truly is, I guess, everything I was hoping for in a college experience.

SPEAKER_00 3:30

And you know, you know, last year, just what a season for you. Uh and and it's kind of crazy. You talk about all those close losses. You were 12 and 8 record-wise, you personally, yet you were named the Little East Conference pitcher of the year because you had such a great year. 126 hits allowed, only 38 walks, 112 strikeouts, an ERA of 2.08. Even as a battery, you hit 351, you had 16 RBIs, you scored 24 runs, had a couple home runs, still none bigger than the home run you hit in the state championship game for Coventry, I think. Uh, which I remember well. Um, but the the thing that jumped out at me is we had Coach Pepin on a few weeks ago, Rob. You remember that, I'm sure. And do you remember when I asked her who who the one player is that she would want, like, you know, in that strikeout moment or the at bat? I sure it was a uh uh yeah, a lady named uh Molly Rathburn, and she was the last Little East Conference pitcher of the year from Eastern since Elizabeth Mitchell. So that shows you the class of of level that that Miss Mitchell's at here, I think, anyway. So but uh did that surprise you at all, Liz, to be named the the league's pitcher of the year?

SPEAKER_02 4:40

Um it didn't, didn't thank God the awards got picked before the conference started, the conference room started because at the end of the season I I started we started to tank as like a team, and like you know, I was letting up too many runs and hits. Um because my record going in before like the last six games was pretty good. I think I was like 10 and like three or four, and then really after the tournament started, I was on like a six-game losing streak and never uh came back from that during the season. But um I worked really hard with my pitching coach, um, Yesenia Everisto. She really helped me out a lot when I got to Eastern. I mean, over the two years, we've been I never even had a curveball become before coming to college. And she taught me that curveball and like she really pushed me to become a better pitcher because she knew what I had inside me. Like I really, truthfully, I love winning so much. I I hate losing more than I like winning at the end of the day. That's what we always used to say. Um, but I did get my freshman year, so you know I had to uphold that standard, and I I was really working hard to get it. But I wouldn't say it surprised me, but I was just more grateful to be named the pitcher of the year.

SPEAKER_00 6:02

And and you know, when you left Coventry, and we'll cover your the whole high school career and all that here in a little bit, but to be named Little East Rookie of the Year in that first year, and now pitcher of the year is a sophomore, and you talked about how difficult the jump was, you know, from from Coventry to college, is that just, you know, is it a credit to your work ethic? Um, I mean, obviously you're an incredibly talented pitcher and and player. You know, I've seen you do it at the high school level, but what was it that allowed you to have that type of success at the college level?

SPEAKER_02 6:33

Um, I definitely I think it was like more the motivation of you know coming in as a freshman. There was older girls, um, like a senior who is a pitcher that's been there for four years. So I definitely like wanting to earn that number one spot definitely pushed me to be super motivated. Um the just the level of play is just different. The speed of the game. Um in high school, honestly, if I had the spin I did now, I don't think we would have lost a game in high school. Um, even though my spin is really all not that great at the end of the day for the college level, we're still working on that.

SPEAKER_00 7:15

Um but what could you buy in high school? Was it just hitting your spots and and and you know, fastball changeup routine, or what do you think made you so successful?

SPEAKER_02 7:28

In high school, it was only really the first before batteries I could hit, and then the rest of the lineup was, you know, whoever they could scramble up in the class S um schools. So, you know, the nobody really had a lineup that was one through nine. I mean, I think we had a lineup that was maybe one through six, you know, and we were still at the higher level of class S, but um, hitting spots definitely was a big thing. Um, just getting batters to chase in high school, not very many people have discipline, but definitely when it comes to college, a lot of girls have discipline, and you really have to tunnel your pitches well in order to get them to chase off those like rise balls and you know, out like outs like really outside curveballs and really like get them to chase. That's definitely what I think has made me more successful is definitely tunneling those pitches to get batters to chase. Think that it's coming inside when in reality it's going out.

SPEAKER_00 8:28

Well, I think you summed up that you know you talk about the top four hitters and some of the class S lineups. A lot of those kids are going to college, so colleges are filled with top four hitters, right? From you know, one through nine, the number nine hitter was probably hitting somewhere in the top four.

SPEAKER_02 8:42

Yeah, definitely. Um, because there was even on my high school team, there was girls who were sitting the bench on my high school team that would be in the top four for other schools that we play. So that was like kind of cool to be a part of, like, you know, a very talented high school team. Not many girls can say that. I mean, can't really recruit in high school. So, you know, you really get what you get with everybody moving up into high school. But I I definitely am grateful I had such like a talented team because, you know, like Cam Fisher, I talk about her all the time. She's absolutely fantastic, but she didn't have much run support, you know, in Ellington. So just it was nice having growing up playing with Julia Boya, Remy, um we had uh Brooke Blue and Lila. We all played for the Bombers. Even uh Caroline and Charlotte Weslowski, we all played for the Bombers growing up, so there was more than just playing softball during the spring season, it was all year round. So the talent definitely shined through and we needed it in a big spot in high school.

SPEAKER_00 9:54

Oh, for sure. The Coventry team that you talked about, your senior year that won the state title was a good one. And that's one of those teams that you always wish that at the end of every tournament. Rob, I think you would agree with this. I would love to see Class S take on the class double L champion. No class. Class M play Class L. And especially in a sport like softball and or baseball, where you know it would be uh I think that would be a lot of fun to end with just one state champ that says it's the best team, you know, in the state. So but that's not the way it is. But but what led you to the softball field, Liz? I mean, why how did you become a softball player rather than running track or you know, playing lacrosse or something like that?

SPEAKER_02 10:34

Because I absolutely hate running with my whole heart. All you either you gotta make it 60 feet and then keep going, or you hit the ball really far so you can jog around the bases. That's about it. Um I started my parents put me in all different types of sports when I was little to see what I liked. Soccer was absolutely my least favorite. I think I made it to about three games, and that was enough for me. Um but they put me-too much running, right? Yeah, exactly. Yep. When I was like four years old, I already knew I hated running. Um and then they put me into T-ball, you know, that's fun and all. Um, and then, you know, I started to grow up and I kept playing baseball with the boys, and I'm around like eight years old, and my parents were not happy with these practices, and I live across the street from Julia Boya. Um, that was my junior year center fielder. Um, and now I play uh Eastern with her. I live right across the street from her, and her dad was like, Why don't you come try softball? You know, just come to practice and see if you like it. And her older sister played, and I I just started, you know, getting to know the girls and I was having a lot of fun, and then it just never stopped. It was always go time. It was then we did wreck, and then I joined the bombers at nine years old and played for the tenure team, and then we were on the all-star team together, and then you know, it's just kind of a routine to you know as soon as that season ended. When's the next time we could play softball?

SPEAKER_00 12:12

So and who who who was the uh bright side or who had the great idea to say, hey Liz, this is the pitcher's mound. Let's see what you can do.

SPEAKER_02 12:24

I think that was me, if I'm gonna be honest. Um, Julia Boya's sister Abby Boya, she was a pitcher and she was very tall for her age, and she looked like she was having fun. I was like, man, I want to do that. And then I said to my dad one day, and he grabbed the bucket and we went out in the backyard, and I probably didn't hit his glove once, but then we came back out the next day, and maybe I hit his glove once that time, and then it progressively it just got better, and we were having fun. You know, I was starting to throw strikes, it definitely wasn't very fast, but you know, I just thought, you know, that that just looks like the most fun spot on the field. I'm they're they're in control always, and you know, they're always touching the ball when you're playing like rec, you know, you're in the outfield, you're not ever gonna see a ball. And I I I just want to be a part of the action, you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00 13:16

How did you deal with the pressure of that situation though? You know, especially as a younger pitcher when you don't have your best stuff and maybe you walk three or four or five or six, you know, players a game. How were you able to overcome that at a young age to keep working?

SPEAKER_02 13:31

It's just a mentality that I've just never cared. I mean, honestly, it's like, okay, whatever, let's just move on. You know, you can't like dwell on things. And I think I've always thought that way. That I just like, whatever, move on. You know, if the more you sit there and dwell on it, the worse and worse it's gonna get. And that's just not the type of player I am. Like, even now, I gotta let up like a home run. I'm like, whatever, can't get that one back. Let's get the next one. Like, let me let me strike out this next girl. Like, that sucked, but we gotta move on. So there, like the pressure aspect, I don't really feel. I just want to be able to support my team and help help them win, and that's kind of it. I'm I'm having more fun than anything out there, if I'm gonna be honest.

SPEAKER_00 14:19

You know, you know, had soccer taken a hold, I think you would have been a great soccer goalie. No running, and you have to have that qu you have to have that forget forget it mentality once the ball gets by you. So um, but but thankfully you found your way to the softball field. And and again, your Coventry career, I mean, I mean, you were the uh you know, in the middle of just what was a class S powerhouse back then. And and how much fun was that to represent your town, your friends, your schoolmates, and and leading up to that senior year, you know, what a day that was for you. I think you graduated in the morning and and hit that home run in the state championship game at Yukon that night. Just what was that ride like for you?

SPEAKER_02 15:00

Oh, it was so fun. My freshman year, I had like a back injury. I had fluid in my back from pitching. It was more of a my foot hitting the ground and like playing inside during the winter, and it was just killing me. So my freshman year, there was I was doing game changer and losing my mind. I just I just cannot sit still, especially watching softball. And then my sophomore year, we had a great run. Um, we only had one senior, so we still had like a younger staff. So I knew like within the next two years we were definitely going to be successful. Um, I think we made it to the quarter semi my sophomore year, but there was definitely still a lot of growth I had to do. And then junior year, um, at the beginning of the season, it started out like a little rocky, you know, we're not hitting the ball great. And then throughout there, just having like those senior captains, Julia, Remy, Lindsay, they definitely just helped us get to the state championship. And, you know, they graduated on that day, and we beat Cromwell three to two in the championship. So that was absolutely awesome. I mean, that's the first time we ever won the state championship. And those are my best friends that I grew up with, so it was awesome getting to see them graduate in the morning, hustling home, celebrating for about five minutes and throwing on our uniform. And then, you know, if we did it once, we got to do it again. So my senior year, you know, it was it was hard not having older people to look up to, but I was like, okay, I'm the oldest girl, like we're I'm gonna have to take it from here. Um, and then just trying to keep the girls on track, making sure like practices were intentful. You know how sometimes where high school can just be like kind of like a bigger joke here and there. Um, but just making sure practices were intentful, talking to Jeff and be like, hey, do you think we could do this at practice today? And he's like, sure, if he was always down to, you know, do fun drills and make the team better. So I really appreciate having that relationship with him. And then, you know, we just worked on hitting. I'd throw live to them and going through the tournament. It it's just like a crazy ride, and we're just like, okay, we've made it this far, we can't stop here. And then we finally made it to the state championship again, and we're like, well, we gotta defend our turf. We won last year, we can't lose this year. And then we ended up just turning it up on Holy Cross, and it wasn't even close after the fourth inning, so we knew we had it in the bag after like the third or fourth inning.

SPEAKER_00 17:41

And that home run, I mean, is that a moment you're gonna remember for the rest of your days? You know, that that you when when you know your grandchild first picks up a softball, you're gonna be able to relate that story. Is that something you're never gonna forget?

SPEAKER_02 17:54

Yeah, absolutely not. I mean, going to Yukon twice and winning on that field, I've always wanted that was like my dream school to play softball there. And being able to do it on that field is just fantastic. And then with the group of girls we had, I mean, my junior year, we sold out the stadium. There was so many people on the hill. And then my senior year, I'm pretty sure we sold out the stadium again. There was absolutely nowhere to sit. And then I come around second base and I just throw my hands up in the air and I look at the crowd, and I mean, like, that was it. This is that that could have been my last, you know, home run in my high school career. And I just had to take it all in and have them like coming through like the crowd. Um coming into home. I mean, these girls were I've never seen their faces so happy. Everybody was just like, it was like a surreal day, and we have a bunch of videos of it and stuff like that. And you me and my dad go back and watch some sometimes together because he like we just sit and like we bask in those memories because how amazing they were and like how grateful we are to like people to experience those memories.

SPEAKER_00 19:06

Oh, trust me, I'm I'm still I still when I go up back to Maine and see my friends, I still celebrate my 200th career JB basketball point. You know, you're you're gonna be talking about that home run forever because I I know it had to be just a special moment. I I love this relationship with you and and Julia Boya too. I I wasn't aware of this at all, and and that would have been a great story for the uh CT softball blog. So maybe if you stay at Easton, that's something I can do uh before you guys both graduate. But uh are you guys more than friends? Is it almost like your sisters? Because you grew up from such a young age together and have always you know bonded over this sport. I mean, are you guys really that tight?

SPEAKER_02 19:45

The way we got an infight, let me tell you, I think you would if there was a label of more than sisters, I would say you'd label it that. Um we bicker back and forth like we are related. I'm not even kidding, but we've I they moved in and my parents went over there for a housewarming party when I was four. And ever since then, um we've been best friends. Um she's a pain in my ass. I'm a pain in hers. But we we've literally played softball together since I've been eight years old. So I mean, we've never not been on a team together unless it was my bomber's team. Um, because after 10U, she moved up and I stayed because I was only nine at the time, so I had another year of eligibility. And then once my team dispersed, I joined her team again, and then I played with her through high school, and then now this is her last year of college, so if I stay Eastern, you know, there's never gonna be a time where we haven't been playing together.

SPEAKER_00 20:45

So wow, that is amazing. Well, what is what is the time frame for your decision? Uh is it is the first thing, and again, I you know, don't say who the coach is because the school hasn't released it yet, and I don't I don't want you to get in trouble at all. Uh, you know, if you do do if you do go back. Um but is it more meet the new coach, sit down, talk with them, get a feel for it, and then decide, or you know, have you have you put a a time frame down for for when you want to decide what's up with your future?

SPEAKER_02 21:14

Um, no, I I'm more like taking it easy and relaxing. I'm not like worried about it or anything. Um, I definitely do want to talk to the coach just to ensure that my spot is still there Eastern because she could be like, hey, I don't want you back since you entered the transfer portal and things like that. So um I'm definitely gonna talk to her soon. But, you know, I I think since she was my top pick in the interviewing process, that I'm more than likely to go back, especially with like the life I've created at Eastern. I'm 15 minutes from home, I'm with my best friends. You know, I have um I'm living with these girls I just met last year, and they're just my best. Friends now and two of them play on the softball team, so it's kind of hard to walk away from that. And I I definitely think by like early August I'll have my decision. But I I think there's a very good uh good chance I'll be going back to Eastern.

SPEAKER_00 22:17

Yeah, and without naming names, did other players kind of do the option route too that you know put yourself in the transport portal just in case? Or or were you the outlier who just kind of did it on your own?

SPEAKER_02 22:30

The outlier, I mean, all these girls are just kind of sitting like sitting and waiting to see what's going on, but I don't think it ever really crossed any of their minds to enter the transfer portal, especially if it did. I mean, some of these girls only have one more year left, so it wouldn't be worth it. Um and you know, Eastern's a great place to be. We're with a good group of girls. The campus is beautiful, most of it, anyway. And you know, we ha we have a lot of fun together. So the thought of leaving was hard, but I mean, um I was just I told them, I texted them before I even entered the transfer portal. I texted the whole group chat and I was like, listen, I'm just taking a look around. I'm I'm not saying I'm leaving, um, but I'm just taking a look around just to see what my options are just in case you know things do go south. And as of right now, I'm pretty happy with the decision that the school made. I appreciate it because I think it is she was the best um coach for the job. I I I personally I think she was awesome. So I'm definitely excited to see what happens next.

SPEAKER_00 23:40

That's great. And and be it at Eastern or wherever you land, kind of what are your hopes and goals for your the final two years of your college career?

SPEAKER_02 23:48

Um, we gotta win a conference title this year. If I say Eastern, we have to win. Um, we were projected to win last year, but those rankings really don't mean anything. Um I know that because in high school we were always projected never to win the state championship. It was always North Brantford or Cromwell or whoever above us, and we always had to prove them wrong. And I think this year we got a little comfortable because we were ranked number one in the LAC rankings, but I always knew from day one that those rankings don't mean anything, they're just a wild guess at the end of the day. Um so yeah, I mean, we really need to win a conference title. I would love to go on to regionals and even super regionals. I mean going past that is pushing it because there are some really talented teams in Division III, but I just want to be able to go experience that and travel the country with my best friends and you know have the NCAA pay for it too, so we don't have to fundraise it.

SPEAKER_00 24:50

That's that does help. Well, one of my favorite Liz Mitchell, I don't know if you want to call it a story, or it's not really a story, but as I was looking on your bio on the Eastern website today, she talked about how much she hated the lose rob, and one of the things that's listed under the Elizabeth Revealed category is something that you tried once but would never do again. And she put losing to UMass Boston. Yeah, which of course which of course is you know the big league league rival there. So uh so I thought that was uh that pretty much sums up uh Liz Mitchell right there in in terms of how much she hates losing, especially to that team. Am I right?

SPEAKER_02 25:27

Yeah, and we did not let that happen again this year. We played them at their home turf and beat them twice, and it was dude, I it was the greatest day. You would have you would have thought we won the national championship the way we celebrated. I mean, because they're like it's always a great game against them. It's a lot of fun against them because they do they give us their best game, we give them our best game, and you know, it's we always keep it respectful, but it definitely is fun to have that competition where you're just like you guys just want to rip each other's heads off. Um, but yeah, we we made sure that we did not lose to them this year, that's for sure.

SPEAKER_00 26:07

I was last question.

SPEAKER_01 26:09

I was just gonna add, John, that I I read Liz's bio also, and uh full respect in agreement with the fact that you love the smell of the air in Florida. I'm gonna add that.

SPEAKER_02 26:19

As soon as we get off the plane for spring break, um every the two years I've been at Eastern, we've gone to Florida for spring break, and it's just like the best time. It's the best smell. You know, we're in a house together, all together. You know, we're on our worst behavior this year. We're doing belly flop competitions in the pool. Um you know, we're so what I think.

SPEAKER_00 26:47

What I hear you saying then is if uh if uh Florida college reaches out to you while you're in the transfer portal, uh-oh. No, I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding.

SPEAKER_02 26:55

But I mean, I'm not opposed to it. You know, New Tampa, U Tampa was always the D Division II school I wanted to play for in Florida, but you know, I'm thinking I'd I'd be more the water girl there than uh, you know, in the top three. So yeah, you really gotta pick and choose what's realistic, you know.

SPEAKER_00 27:14

No, for sure. Uh last question I had for you, Liz, was you know, if you walked up to Norwich to a CT bomber's 10U practice and and could give those kids a little bit of advice for for what's coming down the pike for the rest of their career. Well, or or even if you could, you know, say to yourself when you go back when you were 10U or 9U, what advice would you give a young player like that that that really, really wants a future in this sport?

SPEAKER_02 27:40

I would say like stop thinking about the future so much. Because at the end of the day, I think about it, I'm like, we won so much when we were 10, uh, 11, like not 11U, we got our butt kicked in 11U because you know, you're playing against the 12U teams. But the 10U, we won so much, 13, 14 you, we won as a team so much. And you know, I kind of was always thinking about the future instead of what was happening right then and there. So being able to just like really sit with those memories and be where your feet are when that's going on. Um when it is time to, you know, and like look for college and stuff like that, don't be so like stressed because at the end of the day, it all works out. Like you will go where you're meant to be. Um, even if you know I I committed to St. Peter's and clear that wasn't where I was meant to be. Um Peppa's been recruiting me since I've been nine years old. She's she's always been like, hey, like, you know, she like come to my camps, this and that. And you know, I've known her forever. So being with her was definitely the best thing that could have happened for the beginning of my college career. But I would just say, you know, live in those memories now and stop worrying so much about the future.

SPEAKER_00 29:00

And the time flies, that's for sure, doesn't it, Robin?

SPEAKER_02 29:04

It definitely does.

SPEAKER_01 29:05

It it sure does. A great conversation, Liz. Uh um, your honesty is so, and you know, you're so candid, it's so refreshing. I I really enjoyed listening to what you have to say. And wherever you are, uh, we'll be rooting for you. Big things ahead for you.

SPEAKER_02 29:20

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 29:21

Our pleasure, John, that'll do it for this edition of the Inside Corner. We'll do it again soon, I'm quite sure.

SPEAKER_00 29:29

We will, and and it's funny because actually Liz did bring up one of our upcoming guests, the new head coach at uh Mitchell College, Coach Sen, her former pitching coach at Eastern. So you'll be hearing from uh from her as well as as you know, Liz once we post this. So it's uh such a small world in you know in Connecticut softball. And that's that's one of the great things about the blog.

SPEAKER_01 29:51

Yep, sure is. All right, that'll do it for this edition for John Nash. I'm Rob Adams. You've been listening to the Inside Court.