The CT Softball Blog

MONROE—Since she was in seventh grade, Masuk softball catcher Alyssa Castillo has been attending softball camps at the University of Bridgeport.

She got to know the school. She got to know the campus. She got to know UB head coach Dawn Stearns.

Now, Castillo knows she’ll be spending the next four years after high school as a member of the Purple Knights softball team.

Last year, Castillo verbally committed to play softball at the University of Bridgeport after her graduation from Masuk.

“Obviously, they had the major I wanted, but I’ve always had a great bond with Coach Dawn,” said Castillo, who wants to major in biology and enter UB’s dentistry program. “I went on my official visit last February and I loved the team. They have such a close family bond, and it just felt so welcoming.”

As she grew up, always wanting to play college softball, Castillo thought she’d make her way south.

“But I realized my family has been a big part of my life, growing up, I didn’t want to be that far away,” she said.

Makes sense.

Castillo, after all, is a catcher and her place in the game has always been close to home.

It was just about a decade ago that her softball journey started when her parents signed up to take part in Monroe Recreation’s softball program.

“I’ve just always loved playing with my friends,” Castillo said.

By the time she was 10, she was donning the pads and crouching behind the plate.

“It was probably my dad who put me there,” Castillo said with a reflective chuckle. “I always had a strong arm, and I wasn’t afraid of the ball. It is what it is. It’s a bruise. It’ll go away. I just love being in every single play of the game.”

She soon found herself playing travel ball with the CT Seahawks, who later merged with the Rhode Island Thunder.

When Castillo finally put on that Masuk uniform, however, the Panthers already had an incredible catcher in Izzy Viglione, now at Assumption.

“She was two years older than me, and I always looked up to her,” Castillo said. “When she graduated, I was nervous taking over. It was big shoes to fill. But I pushed myself and I worked really hard.”

The fact Castillo was so patient in waiting for her shot to shine in her chosen position impressed Masuk coach Leigh Barone, whose team has won six straight state championships.

“She’s a good example of being patient and striving to be better,” Barone said. “She learned from the opportunity to play for a varsity team, learned the culture, learned what the Masuk way is.”

As a freshman, Castillo made varsity but was used mostly as a pinch runner or pinch hitter.

Her sophomore year, Viglione’s senior year, the Panthers needed a third baseman and asked Castillo to spend a year there.

She did so and helped the Panthers win their fifth state title in a row.

“She did whatever she could to do be a part of the team,” Barone said. “If that was being a base runner, it was base running. From being a base runner to being our third baseman to becoming our catcher, it has been such an honor to coach her because she’s a versatile player for us.”

Finally, last season, as a junior, Castillo found herself “at home” if you will.

And all she did was become the catcher for Julia Bacoulis, who was named the 2024 Gatorade Connecticut Player of the Year.

“It’s amazing. The bond we have had is so great,” Castillo said. “I love Julia.”

And Masuk won the title again.

Catching for Masuk last season was the highlight of her softball career, Castillo admitted.

“Catching is my first love, but as I got older, it was all about the team,” she said. “I knew we needed a third baseman when I was sophomore, but last year I got to catch the whole season, and we won the state title. That was so great.”

While Masuk has become synonymous with winning state titles, when you suit up in the red and black it’s about more than that.

“I’m very prideful, but we’re not just a six-time state championship team,” Castillo said. “We have this great bond. We don’t do it for ourselves. We do it for each other and we push through together.”

Castillo has one more year as a Masuk Panthers.

Then a quick trip down Route 8 from Monroe will take her to college for the next four years.

“I think it’s a great spot and a good school for her,” Barone said. “She’s always had an interest in it, so it’s a good opportunity for her.”

Stearns has watched Castillo grow over the last five years. Now, she’ll get to watch her grow even more over the last four years of her softball career at the University of Bridgeport.

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