Bellringers Softball Building Brick by Brick

East Hampton senior captain Einin Frost pitches as Alison Hebb, who plays first base, looks on during the Bellringers loss to Cromwell on April 4.

East Hampton softball coach Erin Jump is grooming a young team that is gaining confidence on the fly. 
           
On April 4, the Bellringers fell to an experienced Cromwell team, 13-1, in five innings at Cromwell High School. 
           
Despite it being the team’s second loss in as many games, there is reason for optimism for Jump and her blossoming Bellringers.    
           
“We have good athletes. I know they are young and it’s been a tough start, but we work well together and we are playing better,” said Jump. “I look forward to seeing what they can do as we start getting more into [the season].”
           
Captaining the team are seniors Einin Frost and Julia Borrelli. Frost is the team’s pitching ace and Borrelli plays second base.
           
“They have been with me since their freshmen year,” said Jump, who is in her fifth season leading the program. “They are two that are always willing to do whatever is asked of them and that is great for the other kids to see. It’s nice for the other kids to see that leadership.”
           
Frost shook off a rough first two innings, pitching a scoreless third inning. The inning was highlighted by a pair of solid defensive gems by young, talented infielders. 
           
Freshman shortstop Olivia DeMartino scooped up a ground ball and fired it over to fellow freshman Alison Hebb at first base for the inning’s first out. Sophomore Chelsea Woods, who plays third base, then snagged a grounder before throwing it to Hebb for the final out of the inning.        
           
Woods relieved Frost in the fifth inning, striking out a batter and showing exceptional poise on the mound for an underclassman. 
           
Because of an injury to Frost a season ago, Woods gained experience at pitcher during the second half of last season. She has also played outfield and first base at times last spring.  
           
“She is very athletic and smart,” Jump said of Woods, “I trust her to be out there and do what she has to do.”
           
Woods scored the team’s lone run in the fifth inning. She reached first on a single before Reagan Burt connected on a deep shot, sending Woods to third. Hebb then sent Woods home, cutting the deficit to 12-1. 
           
Burt, a junior who plays center field, also made a difficult catch in the outfield to prevent further runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
           
After making a handful of errors and allowing nine runs over the first two innings, East Hampton went toe-to-toe with Cromwell over the final three innings.
           
“I feel like right now it’s a lot of nerves. We don't typically make mistakes like this,” Jump said of the team’s slow start. “Today I feel like it was a bunch of mental mistakes, but they are just young and trying to figure it out. It’s a learning curve.” 
           
Jump is hopeful that the younger players will continue to follow the lead of the captains, who she said possess the type of leadership that brings comradery to the entire team.
           
​The Bellringers’ next home game is slated for April 19 at 11 a.m.