Kate Prpich, the Fitch High School softball coach who once won a state championship herself, missed last season’s fireworks by the Falcons to welcome her and husband Andrew’s first child, son Mason.

Fitch won the Class L state championship under interim coach Arielle Cooper, a Falcons alum a year removed from her vaunted status as an All-America third baseman at Eastern Connecticut State University.

So now that Prpich is back at the helm, what happens?

Fitch opened the season Wednesday with Cooper, now an assistant despite being named the New Haven Register’s state coach of the year last season, still coaching third base and Prpich giving direction from the dugout. The Falcons overwhelmed Westerly 34-0 in five innings, scoring 16 runs on 13 hits in a looooooooong second inning.

“Absolutely,” Prpich said, asked if she missed not coaching last season. “I love watching them. They’re awesome to watch and they love the game.

“... Coop and I work together great. She’s a great coaching asset to have. I think if you asked the kids which one of us is the head coach, they wouldn’t know. They don’t know the difference. They should never notice. We should be obsolete, like the umpires. I love the way (Cooper) coaches the bases; she’s more aggressive than me. And I keep a great book. It fits. We try to put people where their talents are most utilized.”

Cooper, for her part, had other head coaching offers, but decided to stay at her alma mater, where she “felt like this was where my heart is for now.” The Falcons return their entire lineup from the state championship run, including all-state picks in pitcher Caroline Taber and shortstop Jackie Lewis.

Cooper said this year is different mainly because no two seasons are ever entirely the same.

“The kids are great,” Cooper said. “I’m lucky to be around a group of kids that want to do better and want to learn everyday. They are gifted, they are very talented ... I stayed for them. They are a very gifted, fun bunch and they also make me look forward to seeing them everyday.

“I hope they stay hungry all season and work together as a team and focus on doing their best. As a coach, thats all you can ask for.”