WATERBURY—Holy Cross softball coach David Sylvester knows he inherited plenty of talent when he arrived on campus just two short years ago.
That talent has now gotten the Crusaders on the threshold of a historic season and it’s first state championship since 2017.
Back then, Holy Cross put the finishing touches on a three-peat.
This season, the Crusaders are 18-6, seeded ninth and will play No. 2 Coventry for the state Class S championship at UConn’s Burrill Family Field in Storrs. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.
“I’d say this was our goal,” Sylvester said. “Hands down, since we took over, we’ve been looking to make a deep playoff run. We’ve always asked the girls what their goals are and they have a picture of a ring! We practice for that each and every day. If you’re prepared for the moment, the moment may arrive, and it did.”
While Sylvester is a long-time coach, with 24 years under his belt including 13 at Crosby, he knew when he took the Holy Cross job the team could reach its goals.
“I inherited talent,” he said.
Upon arriving, the first thing Sylvester did is find a bona fide No. 1 pitcher.
In his first year, Holy Cross went 15-5 in the regular season and lost to Coventry in the quarterfinals. That was juggling two pitchers in the circle as Samantha Lawton and Gina Berry took turns.
This season, though, Lawton has secured the No. 1 spot.
“Softball always starts in the circle,” Sylvester said. “Last year they competed back and forth and split time, but Lawton won the job this year as our No. 1.”
Lawton throws to a sophomore catcher Tressa Montesi, who has become quite adept at handling Lawton’s ball movement this season.
The Crusaders infield is young with just one senior—shortstop Jaylynn Poll.
“It starts with her. She’s the tone-setter,” Sylvester said. “She’s got range.”
Haley DiBona is a junior third baseman, Darby O’Connell is a sophomore second baseman and freshman first base Kendall Raudenbush was called “a picker” by her coach for her adeptness and catching every ball thrown her way.
Sylvester has also been impressed with how his corners play bunt defense, which could be a key against a very aggressive Coventry that loves to bunt the ball as well as they like to smash it.
“Postseason softball is about small ball and we’ve prepared for it all year,” he said.
In the outfield, center fielder Isabella Oliver, a captain, controls play sandwiched between Sadie Girgasky and Juliana McClary. All three are seniors.
Mari Berardis, who is coming back from an injury, has come up with some big hits out of the DP spot, as well.
“I was blessed with this crew,” Sylvester said. “You’re only as good as your talent. They had these goals in mind. They wanted to be a part of that vision, that history of Holy Cross softball.”
To make history again, though, the Crusaders are faced with a very young Coventry team looking to win its second straight state championship.
“They have a great pitcher, they create on the bases, they’re well-coached,” Sylvester said. “We faced them last year and defensively they’re sound. They can hit the ball and play small ball.”
Still, Sylvester believes his team on the right day can beaten anybody.
“Listen, our A game against their A game, I think whoever plays better that day is going to win,” he said.
For the four Holy Cross seniors—Girgasky, Poll, Oliver and McClary—a state championship win would be the perfect send-off.
“They are the heartbeat that keeps the machine going,” Sylvester said. “Every day they work consistently in practice, with the same goal in mind: They want to win a state championship. They play with effort and intensity. They’re a blast to coach every day, make it fun to go to work. It’s been a great season.”
One more win would make it even greater.
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