Softball Preview
Sampson now at the helm of Centaurs softball team
For the third time in three years, the Woodstock Academy softball program will have a new head coach.
But Mike Sampson is a known quantity to many of the Centaurs.
“The four seniors, Kaylee Ziarko, Campbell Favreau, , Maci Corradi and Ellary Sampson have all played for me since they were U-12’s with the Connecticut Renegades, based out of Woodstock. So, they have played the last five years in summer ball and before that, I coached them in Little League so they have been with me for a while,” Sampson said.
Sampson takes over for former Woodstock Academy player Hannah Burgess who guided the team to an 8-13 finish in her first and only year as head coach.
Ellary Sampson probably knows him better than most as he is the catcher’s father.
“I’m really happy. My Dad has coached me my whole life so I might as well end my Woodstock career with him,” the senior said with a smile.
“I’ve been playing for him for as long as I can remember,” Favreau added. “It’s going to be awesome. We’re going to have great chemistry.”
Ellary Sampson will be important for a couple of reasons for the Centaurs.
She led the team in hitting a year ago with a .516 batting average including three homers and 21 runs batted in.
But Ellary Sampson may play a larger role in the field.
She is a senior catcher and Woodstock will need that stability behind the plate as the Centaurs top two pitchers, Grace Delsanto, who finished with a 5-9 record in the circle, and Kaya Nichols (2-4) have both graduated.
“She has handled the staff since she was a sophomore and we’re going to put more on her shoulders this year in terms of calling the pitches and calling the game. We will see how she does with that but she does have a lot of experience back there. I think we’re in good hands,” Mike Sampson said.
Ziarko, who pitched in only three games for the Centaurs last year, but pitched well in the summer for the Renegades will be the No. 1 hurler. She will be backed up by freshman Janelle Elliott, junior Julia Tellier and sophomore Faith Sortwell.
“I have been catching for Kaylee my whole life and she is amazing and we do have a junior, sophomore and some freshmen who can pitch. I think it’s tremendous that the freshmen can keep up us seniors because we’re going to need them,” Ellary Sampson added.
Another freshman, Olivia Rasmussen, will likely start at first base with Favreau and Ella Chitmanotham playing either second or third and Corradi between them at short.
Corradi (.312, 9 RBIs last year) will be counted upon for offense as will Favreau (.290, 9 RBIs), Ziarko and Chitmanotham (.283).
“I really like the returners we have in the field,” Mike Sampson said. “Maci is an excellent shortstop, Ella and Campbell both have good gloves and Olivia has looked good at first in the preseason. The outfield is a bit of a question mark.”
Sophomores Sortwell and Carolina Ethier and junior Tasha Oatley will all likely see time as could Elliott and another freshman, Lillian Dumond.
“I think this is a growing program so we just want to do the best we can, focusing on one game at a time. We just want to work together because we have a lot of new girls in the field,” Favreau said.
Mike Sampson would be happy with a return trip to the state tournament.
“That’s a realistic goal, to get to that eight-win mark. Hopefully, we can compete in Division II of the (ECC). I’m optimistic. I think we have a good team. I love this freshman class. I think it has a lot of talent and they’re going to step right in and play some big innings,” the first-year Woodstock Academy coach said.
The Centaurs will open with a morning game as they host Rockville in a non-league contest scheduled for Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
captions:
Softball seniors
(Left to right) Campbell Favreau, Kaylee Ziarko, Ellary Sampson and Maci Corradi will be the four senior leaders for the Woodstock Academy softball team this season.
Mike Sampson takes over as head coach of the Woodstock Academy softball team this season.
IMG 4029
: Woodstock Academy softball players got ready for a chilly preseason game on Saturday against Griswold inside the Alumni Fieldhouse.
Photos by Marc Allard/Woodstock Academy.