Page 72 - WHS FH 2014

recorded by the 1970s folk group called Delaney and Bonnie and Friends. "And that's how (my mother) got the
name," said Delaney Baxendale. Once, when Baxendale's mother was at
a get-together with friends, her daughter's name came up and somebody
said, "Oh, I didn't realize you were such a Jimmy Buffett fan."

But that's actually where Delaney Chase's story begins. Buffett has a
daughter named Delaney and wrote a song called "Delaney Talks to
Statues." Kelly Chase and her husband were big fans of Buffett and, in
particular, that song. "When we were younger, we were big Buffett fans,"
said Kelly Chase. "It was a song we really loved, and we loved the name.
We thought it was cool."
The Baxandall’s and the Chases first found out about each other during
their nursery school days, though because of their age difference they
were never in the same class.

"I was pretty surprised when we got there and found another Delaney,"
said Kelly Chase. Never could they have imagined they would grow up
to be teammates on one of the most successful sports programs in the
state.

Both began playing field hockey in the town's youth program, but Baxendale didn't make varsity until she was a
junior. Through her younger years, though, she was able to watch players like Clare Detrick-Yee and her sister,
Jill, Joanne Nazareth and Madison Hendry -- all players who went on to the Division 1 level.

"Watching them from my freshman, sophomore and junior years, I really try to embody them," said Baxendale.

"They've been super inspiring." Chase saw action as a freshman last year, getting to enjoy the ride to her and
Baxendale's first state title. "It's awesome," said Chase. "It's really special being a part of this whole program.
It's a great thing to be a part of."

Both have improved vastly since becoming part of the Warriors program and give the team different aspects of
the game.

"(Baxendale) needed to be stronger and finish the play," said Hynes, talking after Baxendale's recent three-goal
game against Brien McMahon. "She was being too delicate with the ball, but she's come out full force.

" Chase, meanwhile, never gives up on a play. "She'll hustle and give it her all, all over the place," Hynes said.
"You tell her to chase a ball 50 yards and she'll chase it 50 yards. She'll
do anything for the team."

The only time life gets confusing for the two Delaneys is when they're
being called off the field or being coached from the sideline. When they
hear the call of "Delaney" both of them always look up.

"I wish (her parents) had called her Bonnie," Chase quipped, bringing
both of them to share a laugh. When the two pass each other in the halls
of Wilton High, both always smile and greet each other with a knowing
grin and a back-to-back "Hi Delaney." And, for the record, there are two
other Delaneys in the FCIAC field hockey ranks -- Delany Flanagan of
Danbury and Delaney Lyons of Stamford.

Only Wilton has two Delaneys, and with the way they play on the field
and complement each other as Warriors, Hynes wouldn't want it any
other way.