The Morgan girls’ softball team is undergoing a major change. Al Ramelli was recently named the head coach of the softball team, who previously coached at Hamden.
According to Athletic Director Mrs. Sears, Coach Ramelli brings an incredible resume to Morgan dating back to 2007. Although Sears did not directly provide the number of applicants, she described the pool as competitive. In 2007, he assistant coached at Sacred Heart Academy until 2021. While in between, he was an assistant coach for Albertus Magnus, a D3 softball team.
Choosing a coach that will be a good fit for our team can be a challenge, but a few elements stand out during interviews. Sears said, ¨I think that the ability to connect with teenagers is a key element and to be able to represent as a role model for our student athletes.¨
Coach Ramelli’s journey with softball started when his late father offered him a spot as an assistant coach at Sacred Heart Academy. “At first I was reluctant, but I immediately fell in love with it.”
Coach Ramelli’s approach to this season is “what I want to bring to the team is mental toughness – that they understand you can’t go in the past and change what has already happened. I want my team to not only learn from mistakes but to shrug them off and move on!”
Coach Ramelli has 21 seasons of experience. He has many achievements throughout his career, including a state title with Sacred Heart as a 28 seed in 2011, which is the only title in school history. In 2014, his team impressively returned to the state championship once again. He coached his travel team to win several summer travel softball tournaments, including the New England 14u regionals.
Last year, the Huskies went 0-18, which leaves a lot of room for improvement and for a new coach to bring in new ideas and win more games. Morgan has 6 returning seniors this season to help coach Ramelli motivate and guide the team. If the Morgan girls’ softball team wants a coach who will push them as hard as possible, Coach Ramelli looks to be a good fit. 
Coach Ramelli has clear goals for the team. “My goal for this season is for all of my players to be better, not only individually, but as a team,” he stated. This focus on both individual growth and team cohesion suggests a well-rounded approach to coaching.
The new head coach emphasizes academic excellence and full engagement, expecting players to achieve their best grades, be present, listen, learn, apply themselves fully, and consistently put in their best effort. As the coach put it, players should “apply themselves 100% and try as hard as they can.”
Returning senior captain Amber Maikowski has been playing softball for 13 years and has been a key component of the team for the past couple of years. For her, a good head coach is a key part of the softball team, said Maikowski. “I like a coach with drive and passion for the sport,” said Maikowski. “I also like a coach who can give tough love and create a supportive environment for the team.”
Another senior and Captain of the team at The Morgan School is Whittney Truebig. Whittney was one of the leading batters last season and is a strong catcher behind the plate. She shared her excitement for the upcoming season under the new head coach. Truebig exclaimed, “This season I hope to have a winning season, or a season where everyone improves and has fun.” She also thinks that a fresh perspective could really help the team improve and reach new goals this season.
The Morgan girls’ softball team has been struggling these past few years, going through many coaches. Coach Ramelli will hopefully bring stability, positivity, and work ethic, hoping to make a huge difference in this upcoming season.
Coach Ramelli believes that his coaching style is different from many other coaches. “What differs from my coaching style vs other coaches is my proven ability to get the most out of every player I encounter – push them to the brink they never were or knew they could ever go before.”
