After the first week of the 2026 high school softball season, one thing is obvious.
It would be a lot of fun to see North Branford’s Lauren Vitarisi pitch to St. Paul Catholic’s Lily McCullough.
Especially given the big weeks both players had as the season got under way.
In fact, both Vitarisi and McCullough were so impressive over the first handful of games this season, that the duo has been honored as the first-ever winners of the CT Softball Blog’s Union Twelve Design Pitcher and Player of the Week Awards, respectively.
Vitarisi went 3-0 over the course of North Branford’s first four games. Over 14 innings of action, she didn’t surrender a single run and gave up just five hits. She struck out 31 while walking just a single batter as the Thunderbirds opened the season 4-0.
McCullough, a junior, meanwhile, had an opening trifecta of games where everything pretty much went perfect. The Central Connecticut-commit, who hits lead off for St. Paul’s, was 9-for-10 in three games, hitting three home runs, and a double. She scored 10 runs, drove in nine and stole seven bases.
Winners will be announced every Monday afternoon here on the CT Softball Blog and through social media.
The players—who are eligible just once a season—will receive special t-shirts for winning the weekly honor.
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