WALLINGFORD—The final out of the 2023 season had been recorded and the Sheehan High softball team had been ousted from the state tournament by eventual two-time state champion Woodland.
It didn’t take long for the Titans, who lost just one senior, to look ahead.
And it only took 365 or so days for Sheehan to take the next step and not only return to the state tournament but play its way all the way to Saturday’s Class M state championship game.
The 13th-seeded Titans will face third-seeded Woodland Regional at 10 a.m., at UConn’s Burrill Family Field in Storrs.
“From the moment we lost to Woodland last year, that’s all we’ve talked about is winning a state championship,” Sheehan head coach Sarah Miller said. “We know that we’ve got the team, we’ve got the talent, we’ve got the heart for it. And talking about it for as long as we did and instilling that into our culture, these girls came out day one knowing we’re going to do this, we’re going to take a run at it.”
Sheehan might be the lowest seed to make a state final this season and their 14-6 regular season record paints the portrait of a good program.
Just don’t be fooled.
The Titans play in the always tough SCC and they didn’t shy away from some tough non-conference opponents.
“We are better than a lot of people may think that we are,” Miller said. “And that was the biggest thing for them, is that from the second they stepped on that field at the beginning of the season, every single one of them believed in themselves and trusted their teammates and it was a part of the culture.”
Sheehan boasts a very good defense and like many coaches Miller believes defense can win championships.
“I would say that the majority of the year, what has really solidified how good we have been, is our defense across the board,” the coach said. “We read balls really well. We don’t rush. When we’re doing things, we take our time, and we don’t let moments get too big for us and that really helps to support our pitcher so she’s more calm when she’s on the mound.”
Senior Trinity Lavalley is that pitcher and one of four captains on the Sheehan squad. She throws the ball to sophomore catcher Julia Cassesse.
The infield is made up off sophomore Lily Dandorph at first base, senior captain Reilly Hunter at second, senior captain Ivie Archer at shortstop and sophomore third baseman Haley LaValley. Archer is a a three-time All-State player while LaValley is the kid sister to Trinity and the team’s back-up pitcher.
In the outfield, junior center fielder Brooklyn Stanley roams the grass with junior DeLana Leonard in left and Rylee Brunelle in right field.
Ashley Athan sees time in the DP spot as needed (“It’s strategic,” Miller said) while Alexa Fitzgibbons is the squad’s go-to pinch hitter.
Junior Natalia Sollcito is also a key off the bench when called upon.
The last time the Titans made a state championship game in softball was in 1979, so Miller has helped turn the program around since arriving eight years ago.
Her seniors have bought in to what the coach is doing with the program and Miller would like nothing more than to send those players out as champions.
“It would mean everything,” Miller said. “Our seniors have absolutely left their mark on this program in a way that hasn’t been done in a very long time. It’s not just with stats or banners, but the culture they have helped build in the program has such a big impact. I’m going to miss them a lot.”
One more game remains and while the Titans might be underdogs, Miller knows her Sheehan girls are ready.
“We have definitely done our homework and we are preparing for what our homework tells us, and I don’t think it matters who we’re going to see it pitching against us,” she said. “It’s pretty much the same team coming back (from last year) with just more experience. We’re very relaxed and loose right now and that’s the most important thing.”
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