Courtesy photo Nashua North softball juniors Abigail Little and Jamie Parker were part of a recent parade that paid tribute to the Titan seniors on the team.

NASHUA – The Nashua High School North varsity softball season basically was salvaged for just one day.

The Titans recently said good-bye to their senior nucleus in style, with a parade of cars arriving at each senior’s house, leaving a basket of gifts. Many high school teams have done different things around the area to try to recognize their seniors in the absence of the traditional senior nights since the spring seasons for all sports were cancelled due to the pandemic.

But for North, it was a farewell to the foundation of a program, according to Titans coach Jenna Giannelli. Most of the Titan seniors would have been four-year starters had the season been held. Thus, Giannelli felt she and the rest of the team needed to do something.

“When I entered my first year of coaching softball at North, these girls were freshmen, so they hold a very special place in my heart,” Gianelli said. “I was looking to develop a program and was lucky enough to come across an incredible freshmen group who would later set the tone for our program.”

The Titan seniors included shortstop Thavary Hay, first baseman Alexis Miranda, pitcher-second baseman Emily Blondin, catcher Erin Bourgeois, second-third baseman Nicole Perault, second baseman Tiana Rogers and center fielder Elizabeth Deck.

“When I found out that our season was cancelled, I felt like I got punched in the gut,” Giannelli said. “I cried quite a bit thinking about my senior group of seven and all they were having to sacrifice, but I knew it was for the greater good and if any group could push through it, it’d be mine.”

Once she came to grips with that, Giannelli said, “That changed my perspective and made me think even more of them as individuals.

“Then, the day of the parade, I felt immense pride for the girls I got to spend three and a half wonderful years with. Of course, I was sad knowing that it was the end, but I see how bright their futures are and that helped a lot.”

And their futures do appear bright. Two will move on to play college softball, Pereault at Norwich and Miranda at at SUNY Cobleskill. Hay will be majoring in biochemistry at Merrimack College; Blondin will be attending the Honors Program at Bentley; Bourgeois will be majoring in nursing at UMass Lowell.

Rogers will be majoring in early childhood education at Rivier and and Deck is going to the Culinary Institute of America.

“They all have incredibly impressive plans for the future,” Giannelli said. “I know that they see the beauty in their futures and are excited for what’s to come.”

The Titans just missed out on the postseason last spring but with the senior nucleus they were expecting a tournament season this year.

“Although I’m sad our time together didn’t end playing the game we all love, I’m so grateful to have gotten three wonderful years with them,” Giannelli said. “They are all leaders in their own unique way, and any future success (North has) will have started with them.”

The parade, which was successfully pulled off as a surprise, was emotional, going from one home to another.

“Tears were flowing,” Giannelli said. “There were even freshmen in tears. It speaks to their bond …

“I know everyone is heartbroken that we lost our season, but I think it was even sadder that we had to say good-bye.”

But for the seniors, the parade softened the blow.

“I was very upset about this season not happening,” Miranda posted on social media, “and this helped out so much.”

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