NEW CANAAN—Oftentimes, first impressions can mean a lot. Just ask recent New Canaan graduate Darian DiMuzio.
The Rams second baseman is taking her softball and academic talents to Division 3 Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I., starting in the fall.
During her recruiting process, the Seahawks coaching staff was there early and often.
“They found me at a college showcase,” DiMuzio recalled. “They were the first school that showed a lot of interest in me.”
When DiMuzio visited campus for the first time, the sure-handed infielder immediately took to the campus and the softball team.
“When I first stepped on that campus, I experienced the school and met the girls on the team and I related a lot to them,” DiMuzio said. “I knew I wanted to play D3, and I did some inquiries from some D2 schools, but I love Newport, the ocean, and everything seemed to suit me really well.”
DiMuzio didn’t want to verbally commit to early, though, and she let the recruiting process play out in order to give other schools she was interested—and those that were interested in her—a fair shake.
Last summer, DiMuzio had finalized her choices down to Salve, Bentley and Gettysburg.
“(Bentley and Gettysburg) are both good academic schools and I liked them both a lot,” DiMuzio said. “But Salve, even taking softball out of it, I could just tell from the vibe of the school would be a great fit for me.”
DiMuzio hopes to major in business at the school.
“Darian was one of our best leaders this year,” New Canaan co-head coach Joel Geriak said. “She was always in the game and kept the team focused. She is a hard worker and cares about her team and her teammates. Salve is lucky to have her.”
Growing up in a lacrosse-mad town like New Canaan, DiMuzio did try that sport but soon gravitated toward the softball diamond.
“I tried every sport possible, I think, but I don’t think lacrosse was my calling,” she said. “I honestly don’t know what I liked softball so much, but I just always had fun with my teams.”
That alone would be a great reason to stick with any sport, but DiMuzio did admit to being drawn to a game that was so mental, where failure could be an every-game occurrence and you had to overcome that to shine in the moments where you succeeded.
“It’s such a mental sport,” she said. “I liked that.”
She started in the town’s rec program and by middle school moved up to the town’s travel team.
Soon, DiMuzio’s dad helped start a more competitive travel team in the town, though Darian soon make the jump to the higher-level CT Impact.
“It was the most intimidating thing ever,” DiMuzio said. “All the girls were older and here I was this little freshman, Darian, but I made the team.”
DiMuzio credit the Impact and her travel coach, Fairfield Ludlowe coach Adam Laliberte, with turning her into a college-ready player.
“He taught me a lot mentally and helped get me recruited,” she said.
When she tried out for the Impact, she was also pitching. She soon left that position behind, though, to focus on her other position at second base.
“I soon realized I wasn’t as good as a pitcher,” she admitted. “I was too scared and I didn’t like that all the focus was on me. That position wasn’t for me, so I just gave it up.”
Laliberte is proud of the DiMuzio’s growth since arriving with the Impact.
“Darian did come as a pitcher but realized her future in softball was in other places,” Laliberte said. “She has really developed as an excellent second baseman and now outfielder, all the while remaining a good hitter, with a knack for the clutch hit or squeeze bunt. Most importantly she’s a tremendous person and teammate. You can always hear Darian as the loudest and most positive person in the dugout. Salve is getting a great player and even better person.”
DiMuzio enjoyed her time at second base as New Canaan rose to become one of the top teams in the FCIAC before she graduated.
“I’m definitely proud of my New Canaan team and I enjoyed being with them and we all worked really well together,” she said. “It was a lot of fun playing for them.”
DiMuzio hopes the vibes she felt at Salve Regina will lead to more fun on the softball field, as well.
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