We’re always looking for up-and-coming talent and in Massachusetts you get a two-for-one deal in the Coupal household.
Haley is a 2022 infielder who attends Bishop Feehan (Attleboro, Massachusetts) High and, on October 2, she verbally committed to UConn. Young sister Madolyn is a 2025 infielder who goes to North Attleboro Middle School.
Haley has her future planned with her commitment to the Huskies and many feel “Maddie” will be following the same path.
According to her coaches, Haley is a multi-tool player who possesses high-end athleticism, skill, love of the game, and an unmatched game IQ and has been a leader on every Rhode Island Thunder Gold Lotti team she has played on beginning with the nationally ranked 14U National team in 2018-2019.
“Haley is a smooth middle infielder with soft hands and very good range (including into the outfield) who makes many plays look routine,” begins Dave Lotti, the head of the Thunder organization. “She is a fierce competitor who loves to play against the best teams and is always trying to progress—she wants to be the best player on the field.”
Lotti adds that his prized junior is “a student of the game, and like a coach on the field. Haley knows everyone‘s responsibilities in any situation her team faces.”
Haley has lot of experience at third as well as she can defend the bunt with the best and is very sure handed at the hot corner. Adds her Thunder coach, “Haley possesses a quick transfer/release and an overhand throw of 60mph. Haley is both athletic and physically strong.”
Offensively, Haley is a top of the lineup .300 plus hitter who hits for power to all fields, has a great command of the strike zone, and can lay down a bunt for a hit. On Lotti’s 18U Gold team she had a strong fall season hitting for power and average while maintaining an OBP of .440.
For the nationally-ranked 14U Lotti team, she batted in the 2-hole and hit .342 with an OBP of .451 while playing against the best teams in the country at IDT, Diamond 9, and PGF Premier Nationals.
“She loves the big moment and often delivers a clutch hit when needed most,” Lotti adds. “Haley is an outstanding base runner with 2.9 speed who often gets the extra base and has a high success rate stealing bases.”
The coaches count on her to do many things on the field. Her reliability, compete-level, and presence brings out the best in her teammates. Haley is a two-sport, varsity athlete at Bishop Feehan High and, besides being the starting shortstop as a freshman on the team that made it to the Massachusetts D1 state finals, she was the leading scorer on Feehan’s Top 5 state-ranked basketball team as a sophomore where she earned All-Conference and Sun Chronicle All-Star awards.
Haley’s younger sister Madolyn also plays the middle infield on the current Rhode Island Thunder Gold 14U National – Lotti team. Madolyn, or “Maddie” as her teammates call her, is a multi-tool, high impact player with potential to play at the upper end of D1 college softball.
“Defensively. she is very athletic with quick feet and can make all of the plays,” Lotti continues. “Maddie has great range and is very sure handed.”
Besides playing middle infield on the very talented Dave Lotti 14U National team, she also can play centerfield and third base. The 13-year-old old has been playing against 14U, 16U and 18U competition since she was 10.
“Maddie is a playmaker in the truest sense,” the Rhode Island Thunder leader says. “Like her older sister, Haley, she wants the ball at all times. At only 101 pounds, Maddie can already throw the ball overhand at 56 mph.”
Offensively Maddie hits 1st or 2nd on Lotti’s 14U National team. She is a .300 plus hitter with a .500-plus OBP and hits the bard hard with some needed power.
“She has a very efficient mechanical approach at the plate where she maximizes her physical strength,” Lotti believes. “ Although smaller in stature compared to her teammates she is a very dynamic offensive force. Madolyn is an excellent bunter and situational hitter as well. As a base runner, she is fearless and very smart. Whether it is taking an extra base on a ball in play, stealing a base, or forcing the action Maddie makes things happen.”
“Maddie possesses traits all coaches love: she’s coachable, plays with desire and has the passion to be the best. The coaches are counting on Maddie as a major core player on a team with high national expectations.”
— Brentt Eads
