Norwalk native Donna Fagan remembers her first at-bat with the University of Connecticut softball team. "I hit the ball to shortstop, and coming out of the box I got a little top heavy and fell over,'' she said. "Fortunately, there was an overthrow, and I got to first base."
Things got much better after that. She was inducted into the University of Connecticut wing of the Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame earlier this month at UConn-Stamford. Fagan played for four years for the Huskies, from 1991 to 1994, and still ranks in the Top 10 in nine categories. She was the starting shortstop in 1993 when UConn had its best year ever, winning 45 games and taking fifth place at the College World Series.
"That's something I'll never forget,'' Fagan said. "I almost hit a home run, and my brother and father were there. When you get something like this you start reliving a lot of the memories you hadn't thought about in so long."
Fagan was one of four former UConn stars to join the wing of the Fairfield County Hall of Fame. She was joined by Westport's Sean Mulcahy (football) and Ken Murphy, and Ridgefield's Gregg Hutchings (ice hockey).
She grew up in East Norwalk and played with the boys in the Little League until she was 12. The first time she played softball was in middle school. She also played with the Norwalk Mariners fastpitch team. Fagan played for two Norwalk High teams that won Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference championships in 1988 and 1989. Some of her teammates on those teams coached by Ray Barry included Michelle Palmer, Jayme Kovacs, Christy George and Malene Barnett.
"When I got to high school, Ray Barry said, 'You're coming out for the team,''' Fagan said. "I said, 'I'm going to work.' He said, 'You're coming out and playing for me.'''
It may have been the best move Fagan ever made. It led to the career at UConn, where she was the co-captain her senior year and a three-time All-Big East performer.
"I was surprised when they told me about this,'' said Fagan, who works in New Canaan and now lives in Milford. "I didn't even know about the UConn Hall of Fame, but I'm forever grateful."
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