RHAM Softball Twins Head to Harford Together, Yet Separately

Taylor and Jordyn Fitch, fraternal twins from RHAM, are each headed to play college softball. Taylor will play for the University of Hartford and Jordyn will play for the University of St. Joseph. 

Jordyn and Taylor Fitch have basically been inseparable since birth. The fraternal twins reached nearly every childhood milestone together and have completed athletically alongside each other since they could walk.
           
The sisters are now both headed to West Hartford to continue playing collegiate softball, but for the first time they will be at different schools. 
           
Jordyn will attend the University of St. Joseph and Taylor is headed about three miles southwest to the University of Hartford. 
           
“It’s a small school, which I really wanted,” Jordyn said of her decision to go to USJ, “Also, the team and the coaches were so nice. It felt like home.”
           
For Taylor, she wanted something a little bigger and UHart’s campus is about four times the size of USJ. 
           
“I was definitely debating on going with my sister because obviously I wanted to stay with her, but I went to visit and the team was great and the campus was perfect,” said Taylor. 
           
The Fitch sisters each played major roles for the RHAM softball over the years, both playing various positions. Taylor settled in as the team’s catcher the past two seasons and Jordyn continued to move all over the field, including pitching several times. 
           
Head coach Raymond Bell said the sisters had a chemistry that went well beyond balls and strikes.
           
“With Jordyn I never called pitches; I left that up to Taylor because she knew her so well. You kind of just let them roll,” stated Bell.  
           
The twins were the only two seniors that Bell had on his roster this past spring and he added that they were both incredible leaders, who each had “unique strength” on the field. 
           
Taylor was more explosive at the plate and Jordyn served as the ultimate utility player, winning the Coaches Award for her flexibility to wear multiple hats. 
           
“Jordyn learned how to adapt and make adjustments to do what is best for the team. She always put the team first,” added Bell. “She never hesitated or questioned what we asked her to do.”
           
Taylor led the team in both hits and runs scored (22 each) and also smacked three home runs while earning All-Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) honors this spring.
           
Jordyn scored a dozen runs and drove in seven more, while also winning three games and losing none from the mound as the Raptors won 15 of 20 regular season games to qualify for the state tournament. 
           
It’s a homecoming of sorts for the sisters, who grew up in East Hartford before the family moved to Andover in the third grade. 
           
Their father, Ryan Fitch, is the longtime wrestling coach at the high school and was an influence behind them playing sports. 
           
After playing soccer for a couple of years, both began to focus solely on softball.
           
They each said they will miss playing for the local community, but are eager to attack the next challenge. 
           
Jordyn, who has a passion for photography, will major in elementary education as she joins a Blue Jays program that won 75% of their games this past spring. 
           
Jim McKinnon is entering 18th season leading the Blue Jays and is the winningest coach in program history, compiling 320 wins.
           
“I’m looking forward to meeting new people,” Jordyn said of her next destination, “It’ll be a new atmosphere and I’ll be on my own.”  
           
Taylor, who enjoys the outdoors, will study psychology and join the Hawks who are coming off a 13-win season in a transition year as the university moves from Division I athletics to Division III status.   
           
She said that it will be sad to split from her sister, but added that the proximity of the two schools will make it easier, saying, “We get to grow apart together.”