Ridgefield High senior shortstop Sonia Gaughran always seems to find herself in the middle of everything.
Last year, her heads-up play while crashing from third base on passed ball, allowed her Tigers to gun down a big run at the plate during the CIAC Class LL semifinals. Ridgefield won the game and advanced to the state championship game.
Now, this season, Gaughran is playing shortstop for Ridgefield, which got its first win of the season on Saturday, 7-0, over St. Joseph.
In the fall, Gaughran plays volleyball. In the winter, she skis.
This time of year, however, she’s all about softball and getting into the middle of things.
Following her 3-for-4 effort with four RBIs against St. Joe’s, Gaughran went Extra Innings with the CT Softball Blog.
FIRST INNING: How did you find your way to the softball field?
SONIA GAUGHRAN: Well, growing up when I was younger, I’ve always just loved playing any sport I could. I played baseball growing up and I switched over to softball and I just loved it. I just loved competing. I love the sport.
SECOND INNING: What’s the best thing about Ridgefield High School?
SG: The best thing is just the community you get from playing sports, I think. So, I play three sports and the friends I’ve made over it is the best. The bus rides sports games? They’re so much fun.
THIRD INNING: If you could change one thing about Ridgefield High, what would it be?
SG: One thing? Nothing really comes to mind. If I could change, probably not having science labs. It’s really long.
FOURTH INNING: Last year, in Class LL state tournament semifinals, you were probably involved in one of the most controversial and amazing plays in that game against Fairfield Wood. A year out, looking back on it, just take me through that play as you remember it.
SG: Yeah, so basically, what was just going through my head is we’ve just got to win. And I just really wanted … I wanted to be involved in the play. I wanted the ball. And so once there’s a passed ball, I didn’t really think. I found myself with the play and tagged her out and it was awesome.
FIFTH INNING: Have you enjoyed the adjustment over to shortstop this year?
SG: Yeah. I mean, I’ve had experience at short before, so third is fun, but I like short too because I get to be more like a leader on the field.
SIXTH INNING: What are your hopes and goals this year for the team?
SG: So, last year we did lose a lot. We lost six of our seniors, but I think we still got a great team and if we just keep up our energy, we have a lot of potential and I think that we could definitely win a lot of games and compete well.
SEVENTH INNING: If you could give yourself advice as a 10-year-old softball player, or whenever you first started, what advice would you give yourself the first day you set foot on the softball field?
SG: Yeah. I would just say just keep making sure you have fun with it and not to put too much pressure. Just keep working hard and have fun with it.
EIGHTH INNING: Let’s get away from the softball questions and change things up a bit. What is your favorite home-cooked meal?
SG: Probably my dad’s steak.
NINTH INNING: The perfect breakfast?
SG: Chocolate chip pancakes with eggs and bacon.
TENTH INNING: And your favorite midnight snacks?
SG: Pasta bonnets. With meat sauce.
ELEVENTH INNING: What’s the one show that you can’t miss that you go home and stream all the time?
SG: ‘Boss Baby: Back in Business.’
TWELFTH INNING: We know you’re a skier. How did you get into skiing and what is your favorite mountain?
SG: I don’t know. I’ve been skiing ever since I was like four and then I got into racing around maybe nine years old. And I’ve just loved it. I just love going fast. And Thunder Ridge, it’s a small mountain in Connecticut. It’s where I learned to ski.
THIRTEENTH INNING: And what one word best describes Sonia Gaughran?
SG: Athletic.
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