To watch Sacred Heart Academy’s Hailey Azzarone play, it’s easy to recognize that she plays an edge you don’t often find on a softball field. A toughness. Then you find out she’s also a hockey player for the SCC champion SHA-West Haven co-op squad and suddenly it all makes sense. Azzarone, a resident of Seymour, brings a hockey player’s mentality to the game, which means she’s always working, always hustling and always doing whatever she can to help her team be successful. She has played travel softball for the Seymour Tradition, Softball U, CT Titans and CT Velocity. She’s only a sophomore, but she plays older and already leads by example. After Wednesday’s afternoon contest against Shelton, Azzarone went “Extra Innings” with the CT Softball Blog.
FIRST INNING: Let’s start with your softball journey. How did you become a softball player?
HAILEY AZZARONE: I kind of watched the game on TV with my parents, just kind of fell in love with it and knew I wanted to do that. Yeah, I think it started when I was about seven years old, so around that time, maybe?
SECOND INNING: How did you wind up playing shortstop?
HA: Well, I’ve always played everywhere. Started out at second base, did a little bit of center and left, but I always felt that I always work best in the infield and with the arm that I have it kind of suited me best.
THIRD INNING: Do you consider yourself a hockey player who plays softball, or a softball player who plays hockey?
HA: I’m a hockey player that plays softball.
FOURTH INNING: What do you like about hockey? What makes that the number one sport for you?
HA: Everything. It’s been in my family for years. I first touched the ice at probably three years old and that’s really just my true passion over every other sport.
FIFTH INNING: What would you rather do, though? Hit a home run or score a goal?
HA: I don’t think I could pick. They’re both really thrilling experiences. Adrenaline kick, but they both. They’re both great.
SIXTH INNING: What is your go-to pre-game hype music before you play a game?
HA: Probably more upbeat music, obviously. Probably for hockey that would be Still Sleepless and The Thrill. And then softball kind of more like white-girl music. I do sing “Baby” by Justin Bieber when I’m out on the field. It helps me focus and not get in my head.
SEVENTH INNING: When you go home after a game, what is the perfect home-cooked meal waiting for you?
HA: Ooh, probably a nice steak with some mashed potatoes. And green beans.
EIGHTH INNING: What is one thing none of your teammates know about you?
HA: I don’t know. Well, for softball, they probably don’t know my nickname because that’s more hockey nickname, which is Azzy. I can also do The Worm.
NINTH INNING: What brought you to Sacred Heart Academy?
HA: Mainly because my brother goes to Notre Dame (West Haven) and once it was a sister school (to Sacred Heart Academy), so it just kind of fell into place.
TENTH INNING: What one word best describes Hailey Azzarone?
HA: Driven.
• • •
Love Stories Like This?
Get Connecticut’s best softball features, breaking news, recruiting updates and exclusive interviews delivered to your inbox every Friday morning. Subscribe to the CT Softball Blog Weekly.
Leave a Reply