The CT Softball Blog

WOODBURY—Nonnewaug first baseman Elizabeth Boisits called her college recruiting process “a long journey.”

In the end, though, she found the perfect place for her future, both academically and athletically, a little more than 20 miles away from home.

Earlier this week, Boisits, an All-State Class M selection last spring, verbally committed to play at Western Connecticut State University.

“It was definitely a long journey of deciding which college would be the best fit for me,” Boisits said. “Over the past maybe two years, it’s been constant emails to coaches and going to camps. I had my mindset on a few other colleges and definitely narrowed down my selection. Specifically West Conn, when I stepped foot on campus, I had a feeling that I belonged there. I finally understood what people meant when they said that, when I immediately fell in love with the campus and never wanted to go somewhere so badly.”

The dual left-hander, who hits and throws lefty, was a first baseman last season for Chris Martin’s Nonnewaug crew, which went undefeated in the regular season, lost in the Berkshire League championship game and advanced all the way to the Class M semifinals before losing to eventual champ Foran.

Boisits’ bat, her defensive prowess at first base, and her leadership are all big reasons for the Chiefs’ success.

“Elizabeth has been a solid first baseman for us,” said Nonnewaug head coach Chris Martin, who is also president of Rapids Softball, Boitsis’ travel program. “She has a hidden explosion in her swing that will open some eyes. I’ve seen her grow as a player and individual into someone I wish I had nine of.”

Once upon a time, Boisits had dreams of getting far away from home to play the game she loves so much.

As she grew up and matured, though, she realized that staying closer to home meant more to her than warmer weather.

“At first, I wanted to go far, and then I kind of came to the realization of I don’t want to leave my family and be too far away,” Boisits said. “I am someone who’s big on family time and wants my grandparents to be able to go to as many games as possible. And I knew that if I went more than three hours away, that wouldn’t be as easy for them to do. So that definitely went into my decision, but it did not impact the whole entire thing.”

A tight-knit family and loyalty often go hand-in-hand and West Conn is getting a fiercely loyal player, albeit not a prototypical first baseman out of central casting.

After all, while many collegiate first baseman are tall, Boisits stands just 5-foot-4.

Being left-handed limited her positioning on the field when she was younger and when she had trouble tracking balls in the outfield, she was put at first base.

It was there she found a home.

“I started playing first and I fell in love with it,” Boisits said. “I feel like my height, I could play it like I’m six foot, even though I’m 5-4. I could stretch to the ball. I have a good vertical when I’m jumping to the ball. So, I feel like my height hasn’t restricted me.”

Nor as her loyalty.

While many players hop-scotch around travel teams seeking either bigger challenges or greener grass, as they say, Boisits has played for just two travel teams since she was eight years old.

She started playing for the Pomperaug travel program and remained there until her 14U season, when she made the switch to Rapids Softball, based out of Watertown.

“I mean, I’m really big on loyalty,” Boisits said. “I feel like that’s been engraved in me since I was a young kid, just to be loyal. And obviously there’s been times where I might say, ‘Oh, what if I wanted to try out for another team?’ And my parents have always given me that option, but I’ve always came back to the teams that I was on. I realized I felt like that’s where I belonged, and I felt a sense of belonging on those teams. So, I am very big into being loyal.”

With her college decision behind her, Boisits can now focus on becoming the best player she can be while helping Nonnewaug wrap up some unfinished business from a year ago.

“Well, first of all, I just want to enjoy the season as much as I can and soak as much up as I can,” she said. “For my team, I am hoping we make it deep into the state championship (tournament) again. Last year we made it to semifinals and I’m hoping we could push it all the way to finals this year. And I feel like that’d be a great ending to my senior year.”

Growing up watching her brother play baseball led Boisits to the softball field, and it’s a place she wants to keep returning to for as long as she can.

“I love softball,” she said, “and over the years I just grew this insane amount of love for the sport. Around sixth grade, I realized that I want to be able to play in college and that’s when I started to take it a little more seriously. Once, I got to high school, I realized these four won’t be long enough for me. I need to continue this. This has been a dream forever.”

While her long recruiting journey has ended, and her dream coming true, Elizabeth Boisits’ softball career is far from over.

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