Worcester's Sylvester Sisters Starring for Suffolk Softball

Courtesy of Jennifer Toland, Worcester Telegram & Gazette

WORCESTER - In 2014, sisters Delaney and Payton Sylvester of Worcester had one wonderful season together as Doherty High softball teammates.

Delaney, a three-time Inter-High MVP, capped her high school career by batting .607 and catching Payton, who, as a freshman that season, led the Inter-High with a 2.09 ERA. The pair helped the Highlanders to an appearance in the Central Mass. Division 1 tournament.

Delaney graduated and began her outstanding college career at Suffolk, while Payton starred as Doherty's ace for three more years and led the Highlanders to the 2016 Central Mass. title. Doherty went on to become the first Worcester Public Schools softball team to play in a state final.

Payton accompanied Delaney on her visit to Suffolk and loved being in Boston so much that she set her sights on joining her sister.

This year, the sisters are together again as roommates and teammates, and they even have one class, psychology, together.

"Honestly," Delaney said, "we've been waiting for this since I graduated high school, so it's like a dream."

Delaney, who leads the Rams with a .472 batting average, and Payton, who has a team-high six home runs, have lifted Suffolk to a super season. Entering the final week of the regular season, the Rams are 23-7, 16-2 in the GNAC. Delaney, who is a three-time All-GNAC and all-region honoree, led Suffolk to the GNAC Tournament final last season.

Last week, Delaney was named GNAC Player of the Week and Payton GNAC Rookie of the Week for the second time this year. The pair helped the Rams to an 8-0 week.

"It's one of the best feelings," Payton said. "I got to experience this my freshman year of high school. Experiencing how powerful we can be on the field together when we really connect is an amazing feeling and especially for her last season in college we're both just really pushing for the same goal."

Payton, who has pitched mostly in relief, is 7-3 with a 1.59 ERA. She is also filling in at shortstop. She is batting .448 and is tied for second on the team, with Delaney, with 29 RBIs.

"She came in and made an immediate impact," Delaney said. "She really set the tone. It's been really good."

For four years, Delaney has been a stalwart in the middle of Suffolk's batting order and behind the plate. Catching Payton again has been special.

"It brings back memories of our days at Doherty and our whole childhood," Delaney said, "because I would catch for her when we were training and during her pitching lessons. It's just a good way to end my career."

Payton, who earned her fifth GNAC Rookie of the Week honor this week after batting .435 and earning a win in relief against Albertus Magnus, had typical first-year nerves when she joined her new team this year. Her worries were quickly put to rest.

"Coming in freshman year I was so scared college was going to be a way different experience than what I had in college," Payton said, "but with Delaney on the field, she makes it so much easier than it is. She can always tell when I'm getting down on myself, when I need to pick myself up. She'll call a timeout and come to the mound and she always says the right things like, 'You're better than this. You know what you're doing. Just throw to me.'"

Delaney and Payton were both Hometeam Super Team selections while at Doherty. 

Suffolk played a doubleheader against St. Joseph's (Maine) Tuesday and will wrap up the regular season with two games against Emerson Saturday.