THE INSIDE CORNER: The CT Softball Blog Podcast

Send us Fan MailThe Bristol Central Rams dropped their first game of the season and then went on a tear, winning 11 games in a row to improve to 11-1 on the season.First year head coach Jeff Linsky and two of his captains—Lily VanNorstrand and Haley Powers—join us to talk about the season and changes that have happened over the past season.

Send us Fan MailTwo years after its legendary head coach retired, the Seymour Softball team remains one of the top programs in both the Naugatuck Valley League as well as the Class M ranks.At the mid-way point of the 2026 season, Seymour is 10-0 heading into a big part of its schedule.In this edition of The Inside Corner Podcast, Seymour head coach Samantha Rossetti joins us along with seniors Cassidy Marcinczyk and Julianna Raucci and junior Daphne Shea to talk about the Wildcats and their start.

Send us Fan MailRachele Fico is one of the most accomplished athletes in Connecticut softball history, a Masuk High School legend whose dominance bordered on myth: 105 career wins, a 0.07 ERA, 1,884 strikeouts, and a national-record 26 perfect games. A two-time Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year, she went on to star at LSU, where she became a two-time NFCA First Team All-American, the 2010 SEC Freshman of the Year, and finished her career with 797 strikeouts and 78 wins.  Now honored with a Connecticut Sports Media Alliance Gold Key Award, Fico’s legacy reaches beyond numbers, spanning elite performance, coaching, and a lasting impact on the game in Connecticut and beyond.

Send us Fan MailThree years ago, when Avon High School center fielder Eve Beloin was a freshman, the Falcons didn't win a single game. Not one.They oh-for'd the entire season.Last year, during Beloin's junior campaign, Avon was 15-5 during the regular season, losing in both the first round of the CCC tournament and the state tournament.Only three seniors graduated from that squad, however.This spring Avon has raced out to an 8-0 start on the season, qualifying for the state tournament once again while out-scoring opponents at a 115-32 clip thus far.And Beloin is the only senior on the squad that has high hopes for the rest of the spring season.Beloin, who is headed to Hamilton to play in the fall, and Avon head coach Mike Mihalek joined The Inside Corner Podcast on Tuesday to talk about the Falcons hot start, the influx of the freshmen and sophomores who have helped spark this resurgence and the future.

Send us Fan MailThis week, we caught up with the Lewis Mills Spartans.The squad was spending its spring break vacation week down in Florida, where on Tuesday they defeated Newington to improve to 5-0 on the season.Following a trip to the Universal Theme Park, we had a late-night chat with head coach Chris Sawyer and senior captains Anna Henry, Jillian Tiso, Michaela LaRose, and Brooke Martineau.This is one of those teams you can't fall asleep on and after a great start to the 2026 season it'll be fun to see if the Spartans can meet all their goals this coming season.

Send us Fan MailChris Carrara never imagined himself coaching softball, but at this early stage in his career he is sure glad he found his way to the field. An assistant coach at Fairfield Ludlowe High School, and head coach of a CT Impact 14U team, Carrara is growing in leaps and bounds, and has some lofty goals laid out before him.As he finishes up his degree at Sacred Heart University, he's also become a podcaster as the host of The Everyday Athlete on Youtube.Hear Chris tell his story of how became a coach and podcast and where he hopes to head in the future.

Send us Fan MailOne of the best kept secrets in Connecticut high school softball might be the North Branford Thunderbirds.Over the past five seasons, the Thunderbirds have posted a 112-18 record with multiple Shoreline League championships and three appearances in the Class S state championship.Last spring, North Branford won its first state title in school history, edging St. Paul's Catholic 4-2 in the final.Head coach Nick DeLizio, captain Lauren Vitarisi and senior Ava Ryszczyk, the MVP of last year's state title tilt, join us to chat about the team and the upcoming season.

Send us Fan MailIf you're going to make an argument for the deepest and most talented league in the state it could very well be the Southern Connecticut Conference—AKA the SCC!Last season, SCC schools won two state championships as Cheshire took top honors in Class LL while the Foran Lions won 28 straight games to take the league title as well as the Class M state championship, as well.In our third league preview of the new high school season, you will hear from Jonathan Law head coach Melanie Blude to chat about an overview of the league (as well as her own Lawmen).During our players' segment, you will here from a trio of Cheshire Rams—Jordan McCue, Jenica Matos and Molly Fleming—and they will talk about their team and their league.We will then wrap things up with the head coach of the defending SCC and State Class M champs, Foran Lions boss Gina Georgetti.

Send us Fan MailLast spring, the 2025 FCIAC season ended in spectacular fashion with the St. Joseph Cadets edging Darien in 14 innings to claim the league tournament championship.Both starting pitchers—Katie Dzialo of St. Joseph and Vivian Knott of Darien—return from that game, but don't think both are guaranteed a repeat appearance this spring.In fact, the two other semifinalists that St. Joe's and Darien defeated—Trumbull and New Canaan—both return their starting pitchers, as well. Maddie Pippa will pace the Eagles once again this season while Lauren Fico and Marissa Delcarmine are both back in the circle for the Rams.Still, as you will hear, the FCIAC is as deep and as open as ever, according to those in the know.In this episode, Fairfield Ludlowe head coach Adam Laliberte opens the podcast with a general look at the league and his own Falcons.In segment two, the two-headed pitching-slash-shortstop duo of Fico and Delcarmine will talks to us to talk about both the league and New Canaan's hopes this season.Then we close with a chat with Jeff Babineau, the head coach of the defending champ St. Joseph Cadets, to get this thoughts on the 2026 season.On Friday, we will post the SCC preview.

Send us Fan MailFor the past seven years, the Masuk Panthers have dominated the SWC and Class L ranks.Seven straight state titles and five of the last six league titles show the depth of the program. This spring, however, the Panthers will be facing a lot of changes with a new starting pitcher in the circle and a new head coach in the dugout.Is Masuk rebuilding or re-loading? That's one of the questions we ask in our special edition of "The Inside Pitch Podcast: The 2026 SWC Preview edition."We boast three guests today, including Stratford-West Haven co-op head coach Gary Sherrick, who gives us his thoughts on the league overview.We also catch up with Brookfield senior pitcher Sydney Miller, who beat Masuk in the regular season before falling in the league in the final in an epic 10-inning championship game.And we close out the podcast with Masuk's first-year head coach Emily Woznick, who talks about taking over a program that has a very big target on its back.

Send us Fan MailUniversity of New Haven softball coach Kelly Paterson talks about her program making the jump to the Division 1 level.

Send us Fan MailKingswood Oxford softball coach Jay Bradley and captains Olivia Doran and Alexis Nisyrios talk about the Wyverns program and more.

Send us Fan MailAlbertus Magnus College head coach Lou Bunosso burst onto the state's softball scene when he turned the Fairfield Ludlowe Falcons into an FCIAC power, one that would win multiple league and state championships. Now, the coach is doing it with a new set of Falcons at the college level. 

Send us Fan MailThe CT Softball Blog chats with Ben Purcell and Dom Dauria of the Federation Softball Umpires of Greater New Haven about rules changes and points of emphasis for the upcoming high school season.

Send us Fan MailAfter leading their senior-less team to the FCIAC semifinals a year ago, four Trumbull High School seniors—Kylie Lucia, Maren Jones, Madison Pippa and Brianna Potok—will be taking their talents to college after chasing this spring's dream of winning a league championship.

Send us Fan MailProducer and host Rob Adams and CT Softball Blog Publisher John Nash introduce "THE INSIDE CORNER: The CT Softball Blog Podcast" to listeners.