Despite starting her softball career four years later than the average softball player, starting pitcher for the Sequoits Varsity softball team, senior Stephanie Bonaguidi has been extremely successful at her sport.

Bonaguidi started playing softball for the Antioch Youth Local League (AYLL). She played for the AYLL for her first two years before switching over to play for Antioch’s travel team, the Bordertown Bandits. Bonaguidi had a very successful run with the Bandits; at the 12U level, her team only lost two tournaments the whole year. She carried much of her success going into the high school level.

Bonaguidi made Varsity her freshman year of high school, but also split time between playing for the freshman team and Varsity team. Starting her sophomore year, she played with the Varsity team full time. The team made it to the playoffs that year, as well as her junior year with a record of 27-11, losing in the sectional game.

After this season, Bonaguidi is planning on playing at the collegiate level. She is currently discussing playing at Carthage College under head softball coach Amy Gillmore.

As far as this season, Bonaguidi is hoping for a year even better than the last.  

“This year is going to be exciting,” Bonaguidi said. “We did really well last year and we are hoping to go further in the state process.”

After a season last year with no seniors on the team, they have every player returning. She believes that with the experience and bonding they have had, they will be successful.

“I just love being with everyone,” Bonaguidi said. “We all share the love of the sport. We all have our ups and downs. In the end, we always get along, and when we work together, we are pretty much unstoppable.”