NEWPORT, RI– Some athletes welcome adversity with open arms and play with a chip on their shoulders that drives them to special feats.
Take Salve Regina senior Francesca Galeazzi for example. A Lynn native, Galeazzi wasn’t recruited to play softball for the Division III Seahawks, but that didn’t stop her from trying out for the team. Once she joined the roster, the rest was history.
In her freshman season Galeazzi belted 51 hits for a .451 batting average and drove in seven RBI, en route to earning the Commonwealth Coast Conference Rookie of the Year Award. Two seasons later, as a junior, Galeazzi batted .419 with 14 RBI and was named the CCC Player of the Year.
Now Galeazzi’s a senior, and the Lynn Classical alum turns her attention to her final season wearing the Salve Regina uniform.
“I joke around with my friends and say that junior year was my peak year,” Galeazzi, an infielder who also played on the school’s women’s soccer team, said. “I didn’t realize how much I accomplished athletically. This year I’m focused on going out the right way. I wasn’t recruited. I came in and said ‘hey I’m a girl from Lynn and I’d love to try out for your team.’ I’m just hoping to go out with a memorable season. If we win a championship and I earn more accolades that’s great but I’m more focused on growing as a person.”
Last season was one to remember for Salve Regina. Aside from Galeazzi earning player of the year, the Seahawks finished at 26-13 and won the CCC Tournament for the second year in a row. The conference crown earned Salve Regina a bid in the NCAA Tournament where its season ended in the regional round.
“It was basically a journey of building trust and having our girls love the game again,” Galeazzi said. “We’re a tight-knit group of girls and our work ethic is just incredible. We were nationally ranked, we tripled our stolen bases, our batting average was significantly higher. It was like all the pieces of the puzzle were there and we won a conference championship.”
As the Seahawks turn the page on last season, they have to deal with the tough reality that 2018 brings a new slate of challenges. Salve Regina graduated a talented senior core, including 2017 CCC Pitcher of the Year Kelsey Boarman, and brought in a new group of freshmen pitchers who’ll look to bring the team back to the top of the conference.
“It’s going to take a lot of trust,” Galeazzi said. “We have five freshman pitchers. We went into games knowing that we were going to win just because we were Salve. This year’s going to be a bit different. We have to rely on our bats and our defense a lot. We’re going to be put in tough situations with freshman pitchers on the mound. The adjustment from high school to college is tough. Until they make that adjustment, we have to trust them and they have to trust us.”
If all things go according to plan, meaning the freshman pitchers step into the flow of things and make a smooth adjustment, the team’s pitching rotation could emerge as one of its strengths. With a strong group of bats and smart baserunners to rely on, the Seahawks could be on the verge of repeating its success.
“Our pitchers all throw differently,” Galeazzi said. “I think the differences in our pitchers and the fact that we have options will work to our favor. Our offensive game and the way we run the bases is incredible. We’re just a well-oiled machine and we know what we’re doing. In a couple of years, Salve’s going to be a very elite program.”
On the individual side, Galeazzi will look to improve on her “small ball” this spring. Over her three seasons on the team, she’s developed a reputation for being a well-rounded hitter who can use her speed to gain extra bases.
“I really want to be true to who I am but I want to give it a little spin,” Galeazzi said. “I really need to rely on my softball IQ. In the past I’ve relied on my physical ability but this year I’m nailing down on the small ball. I’m two months away from graduation but I’m still learning every day. I’m really focusing on my small ball game and potentially hitting a little more for power.”
Salve Regina’s currently in the closing stretch of its early-season Florida trip. The Seahawks are 1-5 through their first six games of the season.
They’ll battle against Marietta and Ithaca this afternoon before rounding out the trip with tilts against William Patterson and Plattsburgh this weekend.
“There’s a lot of excitement,” Galeazzi said. “It felt like we had been practicing in the gym for weeks. We just needed to get out on the field and iron out the things we need to work on. We needed to get into live game situations and develop from there. I’m happy that our players are excited.”