THE BOMBERS SHIELD
Shen grad Abby Shields will return to Ithaca Softball in 2021
CLIFTON PARK, NY » Abby Shields found out that her senior softball season at Ithaca College was cut short in the middle of a Florida doubleheader to kick things off in 2020.
Now that things have gotten a bit more certain since then, Shields has decided to return to Ithaca to begin graduate school, while taking advantage of her extended eligibility.
“I have decided that I’m going back,” Shields said.
“They’re my family and I really wouldn’t want to go anywhere else. Starting new at a different program for one year wouldn’t have provided any closure.”
The NCAA granted all spring athletes in Divisions I, II, and III an extra year of eligibility after the coronavirus pandemic shut down all competition in mid-March.
After majoring in health and physical education, she will begin a graduate program in education.
“My coach really wanted us to come back, the six of us in my senior class. Then I’m
thinking about transferring the credits to a school like Saint Rose the following year, once my softball career is finished.”
The pitcher-turned-outfielder started all eight games that Ithaca played this spring. The news broke about the cancellation of the season on March 12, 2020, in the middle of a split double-header.
Shields went into the next game knowing that it could potentially be the last of her collegiate career.
“It was definitely hard knowing that could have been my last game. I think we all realized that we play softball because we enjoy it and we want to have fun. Taking that last game and having as much fun as possible, it made me remember what it was like when I was 10, playing in the tournament games,” Shields said.
“Obviously we wanted to win, but we also wanted to have fun and unleash on them.”
In the shortened season, Shields had 7 hits in her 25 at-bats (.280), including three doubles and a triple. She batted .308 as a junior, .302 as a sophomore and .289 as a freshman. In the eight games Ithaca was able to play in 2020, the Shenendehowa alum was able to surpass 100 hits in her career, a total that now stands at 102.
“Some teams weren’t able to go on their spring trips, so we were fortunate to be able to play games,” Shields said, who had a been dealing with a different form of adversity earlier in the year.
Shields and her Bomber teammates were in the middle of a whole new adjustment in 2020 with a new head coach in Hannah Qunitana.
“I’m not gonna lie, we were very nervous, but my class really stepped up. You have to buy into this new person and their philosophy and we were ready for that challenge,” she said.
What was supposed to be one final season with a new coach has tuned into a much stronger bond than Shields ever expected.
“Coach Q (Quintana) is amazing. She is so knowledgeable about the sport and so caring and loves every single one of us. Everyone jumped on board really fast. She is a past Bomber (2007 graduate), so she knew what we were about and she was really good with communicating with us and taking our ideas and feedback. She wanted to learn about what our program had been since she left.”
She also talked about her decision to initially choose to become a Bomber.
“I remember going on my visit to Ithaca and it was a very late choice for me. I could instantly tell that this team was a huge family and that’s what I wanted. I had played with the same group of girls since I was ten, so I was nervous about going to another team. Bombers are true leaders and we really pride ourselves with our work ethic and becoming good, caring people.”
Prior to competing in the Liberty League, Shields got her softball career started in Clifton Park and would eventually go through Shenendehowa High School.
“I don’t think that I would be the athlete that I am today without being an athlete at Shen. It’s so competitive and you have to work as hard as you can every single day. I think I really got my work ethic from playing there, as well as a some of my best friends.
When she is finished with graduate school, Shields is hoping to become a middle school or high school health teacher, and either a basketball or softball coach. At least, those are her initial plans.
“I love teaching and I love kids, I love the school setting, but I can’t see myself being a teacher forever. Being an athletic director or a principal would be great to work up towards.”