The Woodland Regional softball battery of catcher Julia Rowley and pitcher Ella VanAlstyne have been a team within a team for a while now. The duo grew up in the recreation league ranks of their hometown before they joined the once-powerful Valley Fusion travel program before arriving in high school together and leading the Hawks to three straight Class M state championships. On Sunday, the two go for a perfect sweep as Woodland faces Foran in its quest for a fourth straight title title. After the game, though, win or lose, Rowley and VanAlstyne are far from done with each other. The two are both going to room and play in college together, as well, as both will be attending UMass-Lowell. On Friday, before the start of the practice, both Rowley and VanAlstyne went “Extra Innings” with the CT Softball Blog. (Editor’s Note: Rowley and VanAlystyne were interviewed seperately so they did not hear each other’s answers.)
FIRST INNING: Tell us about your softball journeys? How did you become softball players?
JULIA ROWLEY: Ever since I was younger, both of my brothers played baseball, so that kind of influenced me. I started in the rec leagues when I was five and as I was excelling I decided I wanted to play travel and that’s when I joined the Valley Fusion. I played on Fusion from 10 to 14 years old, and then I moved to Lightning softball in Southington.
ELLA VANALSTYNE: Well, both my parents played softball, so they kind of just put me in it a young age. I’ve tried other sports, like basketball, cross country, and it just never felt the same. I mean, I’ve always been playing softball, so it’s just been a big part of my life since I was little.
TOP OF THE SECOND INNING: Julia, tell us about the first time you met Ella.
JR: I don’t know if I specifically remember the first time because we played on rec teams together, but I’d say we got closer once we started playing on the Valley Fusion together and through middle school, because I feel like when we were younger we weren’t as close.
BOTTOM OF THE SECOND INNING: Ella, tell us about the first time you met Julia?
EV: Yeah, we went to school together throughout elementary school through high school, but we became close friends when we were in middle school. We did cross country in seventh grade, so that’s how we became friends.
THIRD INNING: Bases are loaded, bottom of the seventh, you’re up by one run with a 3-2 count. What pitch is Julia calling for Ella to throw in that moment?
JR: Honestly, it depends on the day, but I would say if she’s comfortable with it, either a change-up or a curveball .
EV: That’s a hard question. I feel like it really depends on what’s going good on that day. Honestly, I would say either outside fastball or a change-up.
FOURTH INNING: Why do you both wear the uniform number that you do?
JR (#8): Well, I’m 18 for travel. That’s always been my favorite number and when I first got here it was taken, or it was a bigger size, so I decided to wear eight. And then ever since we had our freshman season, I was just like, I can’t change it.
EV (#6): Actually, six is my favorite number. I mean for travel I’m 26, but everything in my life always has the number six in it. It’s weird, so I’ve just tried to keep a number with the six in it.
FIFTH INNING: On Sunday, you’re both going for your fourth straight state title. That’s every year of your high school career. What does that mean to you?
JR: It’s definitely amazing because it’s unheard of mostly, I mean besides Masuk, too, but it’s definitely amazing. But, also, at the same time everyone says it’s so great, but in my head, it almost feels expected. Just every year it happens. So, we really want it. We want to play our hardest because we don’t want to experience that loss in the state championship.
EV: I mean it’s great. It just shows though all our hard work, we earned the spot to be there again.
SIXTH INNING: For any of the middle school kids who are rising up to Woodland Regional next year, what advice would you give them as they join the softball program?
JR: Players? I would say, ‘Don’t be nervous your freshman year.’ I know that’s hard, easier said than done, but I found my freshman year I was uptight and that would make me cause a lot of errors, but then as soon as I started playing loose and having fun, that’s when I started playing better.
EV: I would say just to have fun. Don’t stress too much about it because if you put too much pressure on yourself, you’re not going to have a fun time. So, if you play loose and if you just enjoy your time here, it’ll be good.
SEVENTH INNING: What is your favorite individual moment on a softball field?
JR: My favorite moment was my sophomore year. We played Newtown and I hit the go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the seventh.
EV: Well, definitely winning state championships would be at my top, but I’ve had a couple games that I’ve just had a great performance. It just felt good about myself.
EIGHTH INNING: What is your most embarrassing moment to happen on a field, one that you can laugh about now?
EV: My travel team went to Ocean City, Maryland and in one game, I accidentally threw my bat while I swung. It almost went all the way to the shortstop.
EV: I would say in a tournament it started pouring and I could not pitch. I am very bad at pitching in the rain, so I definitely did not do great. And let’s just say we lost by quite a lot.
NINTH INNING: OK, we’re going to get away from the softball-related questions now. What is the best thing about Woodland Regional High School?
JR: I would just say the community. Everyone supports each other, whether it’s in sports, in school, our teachers, our principals, they’ll show up to our games or they’ll just show up to many different events.
EV: I would say definitely the community. I feel like everybody’s very nice and very together. We’re kind of a team.
TENTH INNING: If you could change one thing about the school, what would it be?
JR: I would way maybe the air conditioning. Sometimes it’s like freezing on one floor and then it’s really hot on the other floor.
EV: Honestly, I don’t even think I would change anything. I can’t imagine anything being different. I mean, I’ve always said that I wanted a bigger school for sports-wise so we could have a better student section just because there’s not a lot of us.
ELEVENTH INNING: Which teacher has had the biggest impact on you and your life, so far?
JR: I would say my bio teacher, Mr. Feige, because he always just had fun with everything and he always joked around. He made his class strict, but at the same time it was just loose.
EV: Honestly, there’s two of them. Mr. Fortier and Mr. Kinne, they’re both gym teachers. I literally lived in the gym through high school and they always talked to me about softball and about the season and they just kept me motivated.
TWELFTH INNING: What is the perfect home-cooked meal that you would go home to after a game?
JR: Steak. A nice steak dinner cooked by my dad.
EV: Definitely pasta. I’m a big pasta fan.
THIRTEENTH INNING: You are both headed off to play at UMass-Lowell together next year. What does that mean to you?
JR: It means a lot. Especially it’s comfortable because I know someone already at my school, and also playing with her, I know how she plays.
EV: It’s definitely great going with one of my best friends to college. We’re going to be roommates, too, so it makes it a lot less stressful. And, also, we know each other, we know how we play, and also pitcher-catcher. I mean, we’ll probably stay together that way. I’m excited to play D-1 and we’ll see how it goes.
TOP OF THE FOURTEENTH INNING: What one word best describes Ella?
JR: I don’t know. I would say chaotic.
BOTTOM OF THE FOURTEENTH INNING: What one word best describes Julia?
EV: Ooh. Driven.
FIFTEENTH INNING: What one word best describes you?
JR: No idea. I’m trying to think. Intense? Sure.
EV: Gosh … Competitive.
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