Stratford Coach Gives Seniors Billboard After Virus Ends Season

STRATFORD, CT — The seniors on the Stratford High School varsity softball team reached new heights in their 2020 season, despite never playing a game.

That’s because their assistant coach arranged for a billboard to feature the five players as a way to honor the outgoing seniors who weren’t able to have the season they’d imagined after it was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The billboard, located along northbound Interstate 95 at Exit 33 in Stratford, says, “Stratford High Softball, 2020 Senior Strong,” and identifies seniors Skyler Boibeaux, captain Rachel Newall, captain Angela Grindrod, captain Riley Matto and Abby Anka by their last names.

“They were just ecstatic. They couldn’t believe it,” Assistant Coach Gary Sherrick said, adding he wanted to thank the seniors after the team improved from two wins their freshmen year to 14 wins their junior year.

Now, several of the players will go on to be college athletes.

“Every day we were trying to find ways to make this season as memorable as possible,” Sherrick said.

Sherrick and his wife, Head Coach Jackie Sherrick, work hard to bring a sense of community to the team, and in that respect, this year has been no different. Instead of the usual team Easter egg hunt at practice, the Sherricks hid eggs in their player’s yards. Rather than making Mother’s Day bouquets together, the coaches delivered flowers to the seniors.

The team got new uniforms in 2020, and while they couldn’t compete in them, a drive-up photo shoot allowed the seniors to show the uniforms off.

“They’re a very special group,” Gary said. “… Going this extra step and this extra mile for them was definitely worth it.”

The billboard went up last week and will remain on display through June 24.