GIORDANO GOES OUT DOMINATING.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer

When she reflects on her brilliant softball career at Saugus High School, Nicole Giordano is reminded of one thing:

Time sure does fly when you're having fun.

``It went by so fast,'' Giordano said of her four years with the Centurions. ``It's hard to believe it's over.''

Giordano made the most of her time at Saugus. A varsity starter since her freshman year, she was an important member of the Centurions' 1996 Southern Section Division II championship team. This year she led it to the semifinals.

And for the second straight year, Giordano has been selected the Daily News Player of the Year in softball.

In a season in which Giordano moved from shortstop to pitcher to replace Jamie Gillies, she was dominant in a number of different areas. She hit .580 with three triples, 16 RBI and 50 stolen bases. In her other role, she compiled a 25-6 record with 163 strikeouts in 190 innings and an 0.48 ERA.

``She's the best athlete I've ever coached,'' Saugus coach Ron Hilton said. ``She's amazing.''

Giordano, who will play next year at the University of Arizona, never imagined attaining the the type of awards or statistics she has over the past four years. Her intent as a freshman was to have as much fun as possible. That mindset has remained intact throughout.

``I always felt like everything else would fall into place,'' Giordano said. ``But the key for me was to have fun and enjoy them game as much as possible.''

By the end of her junior year, Giordano began to sense the type of dominant talent she had. It was typified in the Southern Section final when she scored the winning run from second base on a simple groundout.

Hilton considers that play the most remarkable he's seen from Giordano.

``I guess after that season, I got a little cocky,'' Giordano said. ``It was a good kind of cocky. Just a lot of confidence in myself.''

With the departure of Gillies to the University of Michigan, Hilton asked Giordano to assume the pitching duties this season. Much as she did the previous three years when she played in the outfield and the infield, Giordano accepted the new role and flourished.

``It doesn't matter to her where she plays,'' Hilton said. ``She'll play anywhere anytime. She just wants to have fun and win.''

Giordano admits this year has been exciting but also a little melancholy. The end of her high school career means bidding farewell to her teammates and friends, leaving Saugus and starting a new life in Arizona.

``It's just so sad to have to leave high school because I had so much fun,'' Giordano said. ``But I'm looking forward to playing in college. That should be fun, too.''

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Photo

Photo: Nicole Giordano emerged from the shadow of Jamie Gillies to have a dminating senior season.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News