East Lyme graduated eight starters, two Eastern Connecticut Conference all-stars, two pitchers.

Then. Opening day, 2015. And the new kid, junior Mikaela LoPriore, the first-year starting pitcher for the Vikings’ softball team, pitches a four-hitter and gets intentionally walked against Granby Memorial, with Granby just two years removed from a Class M state championship appearance.

Not a bad first day for the girl who just last year was pitching for junior varsity coach Warren Whitehouse.

East Lyme opened with a 3-1 victory over Granby on Saturday, with LoPriore driving in all three runs on a two-run double in the first inning and an RBI single in the third. Granby pitched around her in her next at-bat, issuing a free pass with two runners on.

“That was kind of annoying,” said LoPriore, who was celebrating her 17th birthday, too.

“… I was happy with my pitching, but with the team in general. There were definitely some nerves, but I’m not one to get that shaken up. I’m able to calm myself down in between. It was fun. I was confident I could pitch my best.”

LoPriore was the Eastern Connecticut Conference shot put champion during indoor track for East Lyme, which won the ECC’s regular-season and postseason titles. LoPriore won the ECC Large meet with a throw of 31 feet, 8 inches and went on to finish fourth in Class M with a personal-best throw of 32-6.75.

She said she’s been pitching since she was 7 and only joined the track team her freshman year, making her choice for a spring sport clear.

East Lyme coach Judy Deeb said LoPriore pitched in a scrimmage last week against Darien and senior all-state pitcher Erika Osherow, with the teams finishing in a 0-0 tie.

“That boosted her confidence tremendously,” Deeb said. “… I was happy today No. 1 with her speed and No. 2, the fact that she was hitting her spots.”