On April 23, the girls’ softball team played State College at the Nittany Lion Softball Park (also known as Beard Field). Junior Varsity played at 4 p.m. and Varsity followed.
English teacher Alyssa Rumberger coaches the girls’ softball team.
“This was a great opportunity for our athletes to play at an impressive facility,” Rumberger said. “The Penn State players were not at the field for our game, but we had taken our high school and junior high teams on a field trip to watch Penn State play earlier in the season at the same field.”
Senior Isabella Miller attended the field trip and played at the game.
“It was really awesome to be on the big field and to see everything from a new perspective,” Miller said. “I learned to put my best foot forward on and off the field. I made so many friends through the sport and I will miss all the memories we made.”
Miller will be attending Penn State Altoona in the fall and is potentially studying to be an ultrasound technician. She will not be playing softball.
Senior Bria Clapper rejoined the softball team this year after taking a break from it her junior year.
“I enjoyed my time throughout my high school softball career,” Clapper said. “I learned the value of friendship and what it means to work together as a team. We can’t be a team if we don’t work together and I learned that is what makes us successful. It’s so important to be kind to your teammates and the opposing team.”
Clapper will be going to nursing school to receive her Registered Nurse degree through a 16 month program. She hopes to either become a public health nurse or a labor and delivery nurse.
With eight seniors leaving, the team is focusing on younger players stepping into bigger roles not only for next year, but in the District 6 playoffs that take place over the next two weeks.
“I have been proud of our team so far this season and am excited to see what they do in the games that we have left,” Rumberger said. “While the win-loss columns don’t always reflect it, we have been competitive against some great competition this year, and that speaks volumes to the hard work our athletes put in every day. I have seen so much growth from this group of players over the past three seasons.”
