Backlund, Jantorno to receive HoF scholarships
Two of the premier shortstops in the entire area, Steinert’s Carli Backlund and Notre Dame’s Hailee Jantorno, will each receive scholarships at the Trenton Softball Hall of Fame banquet this Sunday.
CARLI BACKLUND
The Steinert High School softball team has been on a tremendous run of late and Backlund has been right in the middle of it.
As in the middle of the Steinert infield as a threeyear starter at shortstop. As in the middle of the batting order as the Spartans’ No. 3 batter for much of her high school career.
One of the six scholarship winners this year, Backlund is headed to play at Central Connecticut State next year where she plans to major in education.
In the meantime she will finish up a high school career that includes starting on a state title team in 2016 and a team that finished second in the state a year ago.
A fine fielder with a strong and accurate arm to go along with a bat that supplies a lot of power, Backlund recently got her 100th career. Last season she was named to The Trentonian’s All-Colonial Valley Conference and All-Area teams.
A very good student who has excelled on the summer softball circuit as well, Backlund also played three years of varsity basketball for Steinert.
HAILEE JANTORNO
While Backlund is more of a power-hitting shortstop, Jantorno is a lethal table setter at the top of the Notre Dame batting order who possesses great speed and is a lefty slapper.
A year ago she hit over .400 and was named to
The Trentonian’s All-Colonial Valley Conference team. In addition to using her speed to collect plenty of hits, Jantorno is very difficult to throw out when she steals second.
Jantorno has been the starting shortstop at Notre Dame since her freshman year. She also is a four-year member of the basketball team and was named the team captain the past two seasons. During her basketball career with Notre Dame she also received allconference recognition.
Jantorno is a top-notch student with a GPA of 3.7. She has received a softball scholarship to Marist University where she plays to study either chemistry or biochemistry.
BANQUET INFO
The banquet will be held on the Sunday of April 22 at Stone Terrace in Hamilton Township. Tickets cost $60 and can be purchased in advance by calling Artie Kearns at 609-771-6143 or Tom DeVito at 732-431-1346.
The men’s inductees are Mike Coryell, George McVaugh
Nick Martini, Eric Whited and John “Bing “Young (player/manager). Joining the hall in the women’s division are Chris Buck and Alicia Sanchez.
Other inductees include Chip Slocum in the sponsorship division, Charlie Radvany (special achievement ) and umpire J.R. Adubato.
The scholarship winners are softball players Julia Martine (Hamilton), Backlund, Kate Hunter (Robbinsville) and Jantorno along with baseball players Andrew Blake (Hopewell Valley) and Nicholas Houghton (Nottingham).