Olivia Coffren wants to make a career for herself in emergency management. She’s always been good at helping people. Vinal Tech softball coach Mike Altenburger knows this first-hand.
When Vinal needed a coach four years ago, Altenburger slid over from the baseball program to fill the void. That’s when he first encountered “Liv,” a freshman from East Hampton. It was clear to him that Coffren would be an immediate contributor to the varsity team — and not just as a player.
“That first year as coach I was really struggling to understand the pitching concept for softball,” said Altenburger. “It was a beast. Liv came in and taught me a lot, and since that time I’ve really spent a lot of time on my own learning how to be a better coach and instruct players at the pitching position.
“As a coach, I’ve learned from Liv in that regard. Her commitment to the game had been there long before she even came to Vinal Tech and that put her so far ahead of others. Thankfully, she has contributed to our program in so many ways.”
At Vinal last week, Coffren signed a letter committing to play softball at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Altenburger wasn’t going to miss it. Athletic director/assistant coach Eric Sawyer pulled the festivities together, which took place in the school’s classroom for criminal justice and protective services studies. Coffren was joined by her parents Jen and George, as well as instructor Joe Linskey and department head David Cruickshank.
“When I think about Liv, I think about the complete student-athlete,” Altenburger said.
Coffren played third base on the 2019 Vinal team that won 16 regular-season games before its first-round loss in the Class S tournament. Altenburger said it was a special group.
“She started right away and filled that role,” he said. “We were blessed with some talented kids that first year, and with both Eric and myself coming from baseball and entering the softball world, the game is similar but there is still a lot of nuances and things that we needed to learn. We were thankful with the kids for being patient with us.”
After not having a sophomore season because of the COVID-19 cancellation of all spring sports, Coffren had an outstanding junior year. She played shortstop and pitched for the Hawks, striking out 101 in 12 games. She also was their best hitter, with a .654 batting average and .981 slugging percentage, and Vinal again qualified for the Class S tournament.
Coffren is hoping for more of the same this spring.
“I’m looking forward to getting to celebrate with my team and finish the season,” she said,” and I’ve always wanted to play college softball.”
At Mass Maritime, Coffren will study emergency management and homeland security. At one time she considered a career in law enforcement. She is proud to say her mother and grandmother are nurses, but the nursing felt wasn’t for her. She is drawn to how an emergency operations center works and wants to follow a path toward operations.
“An operations center is most interesting to me,” she said. “Hopefully one day I’ll be working for FEMA and helping communities.”
As Altenburger looks forward to a new season, he knows his senior captain will be at its center leading the Hawks, especially the new group of freshmen coming in.
“What she’s doing here at school and also out of school with work, and also her commitment to softball, it’s amazing how Liv manages all of it,” the coach said. “She is so professional about how she goes about her business. To be in a tech school and see a kid like Liv come through, it puts a huge smile on my face. She I’m really excited for the upcoming season and how she’ll do at Maritime.”
HALL OF FAME CHANGE
The Middletown Sports Hall of Fame has rescheduled this year’s induction ceremony for Sunday, April 24 at the Elks’ Crystal Ballroom. After a one-year hiatus because of the pandemic, the Hall of Fame will induct Will Tye, Al Marshall, Demont Highsmith, Greg White, Goran Vasic, Aleana Sutton Reeves, Rick Murray, Dave Pierson, Michael Brown, Ed Kosloski, Bernard Pacholski and Lou Petruzzello, the 1987 Middletown High football team and the 1968 American Legion Post 75 baseball team.
The luncheon begins with a social hour at noon, and a buffet meal will follow the induction ceremony.
Tickets are $45 per person and $15 for children 12 and younger. Jan. 28 is the deadline to purchase tickets. For more information, email Johanna Bond ([email protected]) or call 860-347-6924.
MHS EXPANDS CAPACITY
Middletown High has expanded attendance for winter sports to 75 percent capacity. For basketball, the timing couldn’t be better. The boys team (9-4) will host Bristol Eastern on Monday and recognize its eight seniors — Elijah Wilborn, Chace Petgrave, Matt Steuerwald, Tim Vaughters, Omar Gutierrez, Caiden Byrd, Dariyon Drake and Teejay Jackson. Next Tuesday, Middletown plays its final home game of the regular season against UConn-bound Donovan Clingan and No. 1 Bristol Central.
The Blue Dragons girls’ team plays four of its last five games at home starting Tuesday against Sheehan. Middletown is 13-2 — one of its best seasons under coach Rob Smernoff — and expects to make a run in the 16-team Central Connecticut Conference tournament in two weeks and the Class LL tournament later on.
MERCY WINS AGAIN
Mercy improved to 13-4 with a 50-21 basketball victory over Amity on Sunday. Sophie Hedge led the Tigers with 15 points and Ava Giansiracusa scored 14. After Wednesday’s game at Cheshire, Mercy finishes the regular season with home games against Hillhouse (at Xavier) on Friday and Lauralton Hall on Feb. 14.