GHS Softball Make History, Turn Towards Tourney

GHS softball finished 18-2 in the regular season, marking the best record in program history.

With tournament play starting, everything is clicking for the Glastonbury High School softball team.
           
They finished the regular season 18-2 after winning all four games last week, ending the regular season on a nine-game winning streak to capture the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) Patriot division.
           
It’s been a history making spring for the Guardians, as the team’s .900 winning percentage marks an all-time best for the program. 
           
“It’s nice, but we are not finished yet,” senior captain Moly Edgington said following an 8-0 win over Wethersfield on May 16. “We have so much more to achieve and I know that this team can do so much in the playoffs.”
           
In the home win over Wethersfield last Monday, pitcher Brooke Tracy was magnificent from the mound. The senior captain went the entire way, striking out 17 and allowing only one hit (a single in the 7th inning).
           
After battling to a scoreless tie through the first two innings, senior captain Sadie Scurto got the scoring party started with a two-out single in the third inning, driving home Rayah Snyder and Tracy.
           
“I love these types of games. These are my favorite types of games because I know when I get older these are the games that I will remember,” Scurto said of games decided by clutch hitting. “They might be stressful in the moment, but they are so much fun to play.” 
           
The home team scored twice more in the 4th as Kamryn Herrick and Edgington both crossed home plate following wild pitches. 
           
Tracy smacked a double in the sixth inning, driving home Snyder to open up the floodgates. The Guardians would add three more in the inning as Maddie Handrahan, Natalie Lessard, and Nabia Crawford each scored. 
           
Despite the lopsided final, the game was actually a battle with strategic base running playing a key factor. The Guardians totaled a dozen hits and stole seven bases. 
           
“Taking bases that the defense gives you is what we’ve focused on the last couple of weeks, so I was happy to see that executed today,” GHS head coach Karen Costes said. “You don’t want any day to be a waste without getting better and there are teams that you play where you struggle to find a way to get better because they are not that strong, but this was a good team to execute those things because they are a decent team.” 
           
In the huddle following the win, the team celebrated another milestone by singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to senior Alyssa Myers, who turned 18 the day of the game.
           
Myers is one of five seniors—along with Edgington, Tracy, Scurto, and Meredith Lambert—who have helped navigate the team through the Covid-cancellation two years ago and the ensuing restrictions.
           
“They have meant so much to this program and they are so much fun to coach,” said Costes, who added that this group has grown close despite the lost season in 2020. “The leadership they bring is tremendous and I just can’t help but feel robbed of that year they lost. I would love to have them for another year. I’m going to miss these guys like crazy.”
           
Following the win over Wethersfield, the Guardians took down Ellington (2-0), Manchester (6-1), and Simsbury (11-6).
           
Against Ellington, Scurto and Tracy hit back-to-back solo home runs in the 4th inning to provide the offense and Scurto, who plays catcher, made an amazing catch over the rail behind home plate to end the game. 
           
Tracy and Scurto both played on varsity since they were freshmen. Costes said they are the final two players remaining from the varsity team that went to Florida during their last trip to the Sunshine State in 2019.
           
Over the past four years, they have built a pitcher-catcher rapport that is second-to-none. 
           
“I’ve been catching for Brooke forever. We are super close,” Scurto said of the bond. “That is super important. It makes it so much easier because she is comfortable with me and I am right there to support her.”  
           
The duo continued to lead the team in the win over Manchester as Scurto drove in three runs and Tracy sent in a pair. Lessard went 4-4 from the plate in the win. 
           
In the regular season finale win over Simsbury, Scurto had four RBIs and Tracy drove in three more. 
           
With the state tournaments starting next week, Costes likes how “all the pieces are coming together.” 
           
Last spring, the team advanced to the quarterfinals round before getting eliminated by the eventual-state champion Southington Knights. 
           
Edgington, who called the team “a family”, believes the team has the confidence and chemistry to cook up a potential championship run. 
           
“We are just playing softball out there. It’s the same ball and the same bat every game,” added Edgington.

GHS senior Alyssa Myers throws to first during the Guardians 8-0 win over Wethersfield on May 16. Meyers, who is one of five seniors on the team, was also celebrating her 18th birthday on May 16.