Showcasing more than girls’ softball talent

“Playing with the Drifters helped me get into American International College, a Division 2 school that I wanted for academics and softball,” said Haigh, who will be majoring in occupational therapy.

In her mind, the hard work and dedication to the sport paid off.

“The goal of the program is to teach kids to grow into high school players and take their game to the collegiate level, but have the kids do their homework at the same time,” said Carol Savino, who founded the Drifters program 26 years ago and coaches the under-18 team.

Savino stresses the importance of teaching her players how to present themselves professionally, how to talk to a college coach, and ask the questions they need to learn to ask in addition to development of softball skills.

“It’s all about their education,’’ added Savino, who is also the varsity coach at Norwood High.

“The real future is, they’re not going to play softball forever. You want the kids to excel academically, and softball is the benefit,” Savino said while directing a practice session earlier this week at Raynham Middle Schoool.

Second baseman Katie Romano, a member of the Drifters program since the sixth grade, said that she plays for the Drifters because Savino “runs a good team.’’“I know I want to go down South somewhere and [the Drifters] travel down there,’’ said Romano, who is entering her senior year at Thayer Academy in Braintree. “Carol knows a lot of the coaches and she has good pull. We all work well together, but the coaches let us figure out our own way.’’

She continues the rigorous game and practice schedules to “gain team learning experiences.”