The CT Softball Blog

Zoe Monschein walked into Greens Farms Academy in Westport for the first time wearing a Tucci Lumber Softball sweatshirt.

Immediately, the school’s softball coaches walked up to her and introduced themselves. It proved to be a connection that would change the program, and Monschein, forever.

Four years later, Monschein is wrapping her final season as a Dragon having had such an impact on the program that statistics simply will not measure things.

One year ago, as a junior captain, Monschein helped lead the Dragons to a Fairchester Athletic Association regular season and tournament championship.  In fact, it was her run on a wild pitch and ensuing error that gave GFA a stunning 5-4 upset over three-time defending FAA champ St. Luke’s.

This season, Monschein’s last as a Dragon, she is leading a young team that is rebuilding and while the wins are less, her impact is not.

Next year, she’s headed to the University of California-Berkeley, where she hopes to major in Physics and may try to walk on to the Bears softball team.

On Saturday, while en route from a road game at Austin Prep in Reading, Mass., Monschein—who started her travel career as a Norwalk Zoomer and currently plays for the TC Futures—went “Extra Innings” with the Connecticut Softball Blog.

FIRST INNING: How did you get started as a softball player?

ZOE MONSCHEIN: I started playing T-ball really young, at like age three. I moved to baseball after that and then switched to softball when I was in first grade. 

SECOND INNING: What do you like best about playing center field?

ZM: The fly balls. I get a great feeling when I hear the ball come off the bat and I know it’s coming to me. Tracking it down, calling off my other outfielders, or diving for it make it even better. I play first base sometimes too, but I definitely prefer the outfield. 

THIRD INNING: What is your most memorable softball highlight?

ZM: My best softball memory is from when we won our last game of the regular season last year. It was the top of the seventh and I made a catch and doubled a girl off at second to end the game. It was super hype and it made us undefeated in the regular season and led us into our championship. (The school’s first championship since 2004).

FOURTH INNING:  You celebrated your Senior Day earlier this week? What emotions are going through your mind as you realize your high school career is coming to an end?

ZM: Yeah, I did. It definitely felt like the end of an era. I’m the only senior this year and I’ve been working hard to create a culture I feel comfortable leaving behind, so it felt like a celebration of my four years of work and passing that on to Izzy (Kittredge), my co-captain. 

FIFTH INNING:  Tell us about your bat? What kind is it, what length/weight do you use, and what do you like about it?

ZM: I use the Ghost Advanced at 33in, drop 10. I’m emotionally attached it, it’s so nice. I don’t think the ball sounds as good coming off of any other bat, but when I face slower pitchers, I use my Louisville Meta, which is a 33, drop 9.

SIXTH INNING: Let’s get away from the softball questions. How has Greens Farms Academy changed your life?

ZM: GFA has played a big role in making me who I am today. I came here in 9th grade and the teachers, and my peers, have made me love learning. I’ve learned so much and have done some great research in my time here that I’m working on publishing with my advisor. Besides the academic stuff, I think this place has given me the leadership skills I needed to thrive in sports, clubs, and my life going forward. 

SEVENTH INNING: What scares you?

ZM: Nothing, I’m fearless. I’m just kidding. I’m afraid of going backwards. I’ve put in a lot of work over the past few years to make sure I’m getting better every day in my academics and athletics, and I try to avoid anything that would undo that progress. 

EIGHTH INNING: What is something nobody else knows about you?

ZM: I’m trying to learn to switch hit, just for fun. 

NINTH INNING: What is your perfect breakfast?

ZM: A sausage, egg white, and cheese breakfast sandwich. 

TENTH INNING: What one word best describes Zoe Monschein?

ZM: Ambitious. I want to be the best at everything I do, and I’m willing to work to get there. That’s why I love playing with a team so much: I get to feed off the energy of my teammates and work to get better as a unit. 

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