SHELTON—It’s a very special senior class that has the Shelton softball team near the top of both the CIAC Class LL and SCC standings this season.
The Gaels are 7-2 this season and sitting in 9th in the state’s big school tournament standings, and they are also second in the SCC’s Oronoque Division standings.
With three games this week that, on paper, appear winnable, Shelton could edge in even higher by the time next weekend rolls around.
“The senior class, they’re really just a solid core group,” Shelton head coach Lindsay Wheeler said. “They’ve been playing together since Little League and they’re just a really together group.”
Catcher Jeanice Serrano and center fielder Sadie Balocca are the captains of the Shelton squad, but there is plenty of leadership depth on the roster.
Seniors Salina Clemente, Skylar Mainiero, Abigail Montero, Rylee Potts, and Tori Silva all bring leadership qualifies to the table.
“It’s really nice having some leadership from all the older girls,” Balocca said. “Even through a lot of people will say there isn’t much of a difference between upperclassmen and underclassmen, I think our kind of leadership helps our underclassmen be less scared and more prepared when we get on the field.”
Despite the deep group of seniors, 12 players on the 22-player roster are either sophomores or freshmen.
Regardless of the mix, though, the Gaels are together as one.
“The team camaraderie is really good,” Serrano said. “Everybody’s in the dugout, cheering each other on and hyping each other up. Everything is just really well put together and we’re off to a great start.”
Shelton raced out to a 3-0 start this season with wins over Brien McMahon (13-1), Daniel Hand (18-2), and Branford (20-0).
A 10-3 league loss to Mercy was followed by wins over defending Class M finalist Sheehan (15-6), O’Brien Tech (11-1), Hillhouse Career (14-1) and Sacred Heart Academy (10-1).
Last Friday, though, a tight 1-0 loss to East Haven dropped the Gaels to 7-2 overall, 3-2 in SCC play.
One reason behind Shelton’s success is the Gaels were able to answer a big question this season: Who was going to handle the pitching duties?
With the graduation of senior captain Bria Hayden from last year’s 9-12 squad, Shelton would have to rely on a young arm.
Sammi Denihan’s right arm might be young, but she is leading the Gaels’ defense from the circle since transferring back to Shelton from St. Joseph in Trumbull.
“I think my team just welcomed her back and from the moment we took the field it was like we just gelled,” Wheeler said.
And there is plenty of young talent all over the field, as well.
First baseman Blake Hall and second baseman Avery Wheeler are both freshmen manning the right side of the infielder for the Gaels.
At shortstop, is Silva, a senior, while junior Chayse Dellarocco is at third base.
In the outfield are Mainiero in left, Balocca in center and junior Alexis Burrows is in right field.
One of the first players off the bench is sophomore Julia Lawrence, who is aggressive at the plate and constantly shows how hungry the younger players are to contribute.
“I threw Julia into hit the other day and she swung at the first pitch because they’re so hungry to show the older kids that, ‘Hey, we can do it, too.’”
Sophomore Riley Breunig and Hall, the freshman, add to the pitching depth, as well.
The seniors are just hoping to go out with a season to remember.
“We’re hoping to make it far in both SCCs and states,” Serrano said. “Overall, we just want to have a great season.”
So far, so great for the Shelton Gaels and it’s making Wheeler’s job a lot of fun.
“Right now, it’s been pleasurable to watch them just enjoy each other on the field,” Wheeler said. “And I think that’s where a lot of the success is coming from because even when they’re frustrated, somebody else will pick them up., you know what I mean? Just watching these kids just grow together, it’s wonderful. We just have to keep rolling. They’re on a mission to set themselves apart from other teams.”
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