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Olivia Pearson gives Josie Cecchetti and Sophia Romano confidence one way or another.
The Trinity High School softball team’s leadoff batter, Pearson sees as many pitches as she can. The junior from Merrimack then either gets on base or shares her insight with Cecchetti and Romano, Trinity’s Nos. 2 and 3 hitters.
“I kind of just try and take a long at-bat and get on ... help my team, basically,” Pearson said after the Pioneers’ 6-4 NHIAA Division III win at Monadnock on Wednesday. “Like last game (in a loss at Prospect Mountain), I got out, but it was good because I saw a lot of pitches so I knew what to go tell her (Cecchetti) and then she got a hit because she knew what the type of pitching was.”
Cecchetti, a junior from Manchester, said Pearson tells her what the opposing hurler’s best pitches are and where she likes to throw them. After getting information from Pearson, Romano can be aggressive at the plate, she said.
“It helps us be prepared and know what we’re going to see so we’re not caught off (guard) and surprised,” said Romano, a senior from Litchfield.
When Pearson gets on base, she gives Cecchetti extra motivation. Cecchetti said she enters the batter’s box envisioning switching places with Pearson. “Wherever you are, I try to aim to be there and then you’re home,” Cecchetti said to Pearson.
The trio has shined at the plate in Trinity’s best softball season in years. The playoff-bound Pioneers enter their final regular-season game against Bishop Brady on Wednesday with a 10-5 record under first-year coach Jordan Robinson.
Cecchetti is batting .472 with a .541 on-base percentage (OBP) and 13 RBIs. Pearson owns a .421 average and .532 OBP. Romano has belted two home runs and has a .490 average.
Trinity last made the D-III playoffs during the 2021 COVID-altered season in which every team qualified. The Pioneers went 3-13 last year and, as a co-op with Manchester West, went 4-14 in Division I in 2024.
Pearson, who missed time recently with a concussion, and Cecchetti are both speedy and find ways to get on base, Robinson said. Romano shares those attributes but has a little more power than her teammates in front of her, added Robinson.
“Their home-to-first (time), I think it’s like a 4 (seconds) flat, so they fly,” Robinson said. “It’s huge, especially when you get them on (base) early in the game.”
The three played roles in Trinity’s three-run third and sixth innings against Monadnock (7-6).
Pearson went 3-for-5 with a triple and three runs scored, Cecchetti had two hits, an RBI and a run scored and Romano logged a double and run scored.
Trinity is a close-knit team, the three agreed. They credited this turnaround season to Robinson’s positive encouragement and the help players receive to reach their potential.
Robinson is Trinity’s third coach in as many seasons.
The Pioneers have almost the same roster as last year’s three-win team.
“I think (the) coaching is really good and we’re just realizing we’re good,” Pearson said. “We just need to play together and I think we’re doing that this season.”
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The Trinity High School softball team’s leadoff batter, Pearson sees as many pitches as she can. The junior from Merrimack then either gets on base or shares her insight with Cecchetti and Romano, Trinity’s Nos. 2 and 3 hitters.
“I kind of just try and take a long at-bat and get on ... help my team, basically,” Pearson said after the Pioneers’ 6-4 NHIAA Division III win at Monadnock on Wednesday. “Like last game (in a loss at Prospect Mountain), I got out, but it was good because I saw a lot of pitches so I knew what to go tell her (Cecchetti) and then she got a hit because she knew what the type of pitching was.”
Cecchetti, a junior from Manchester, said Pearson tells her what the opposing hurler’s best pitches are and where she likes to throw them. After getting information from Pearson, Romano can be aggressive at the plate, she said.
“It helps us be prepared and know what we’re going to see so we’re not caught off (guard) and surprised,” said Romano, a senior from Litchfield.
When Pearson gets on base, she gives Cecchetti extra motivation. Cecchetti said she enters the batter’s box envisioning switching places with Pearson. “Wherever you are, I try to aim to be there and then you’re home,” Cecchetti said to Pearson.
The trio has shined at the plate in Trinity’s best softball season in years. The playoff-bound Pioneers enter their final regular-season game against Bishop Brady on Wednesday with a 10-5 record under first-year coach Jordan Robinson.
Cecchetti is batting .472 with a .541 on-base percentage (OBP) and 13 RBIs. Pearson owns a .421 average and .532 OBP. Romano has belted two home runs and has a .490 average.
Trinity last made the D-III playoffs during the 2021 COVID-altered season in which every team qualified. The Pioneers went 3-13 last year and, as a co-op with Manchester West, went 4-14 in Division I in 2024.
Pearson, who missed time recently with a concussion, and Cecchetti are both speedy and find ways to get on base, Robinson said. Romano shares those attributes but has a little more power than her teammates in front of her, added Robinson.
“Their home-to-first (time), I think it’s like a 4 (seconds) flat, so they fly,” Robinson said. “It’s huge, especially when you get them on (base) early in the game.”
The three played roles in Trinity’s three-run third and sixth innings against Monadnock (7-6).
Pearson went 3-for-5 with a triple and three runs scored, Cecchetti had two hits, an RBI and a run scored and Romano logged a double and run scored.
Trinity is a close-knit team, the three agreed. They credited this turnaround season to Robinson’s positive encouragement and the help players receive to reach their potential.
Robinson is Trinity’s third coach in as many seasons.
The Pioneers have almost the same roster as last year’s three-win team.
“I think (the) coaching is really good and we’re just realizing we’re good,” Pearson said. “We just need to play together and I think we’re doing that this season.”
[email protected]
Continue reading...
