Walsh and Whittaker land with Division I programs
When it comes to making a major impact on the state-wide level, softball has evolved to become by far Mercer County’s most successful high school sport over the last decade.
With that in mind, it should come as no surprise there were a whole slew of Colonial Valley Conference players who made their college commitments final on Wednesday’s Division I early signing date.
At the top of the list are three players from the juggernaut Robbinsville team, which will return most of its starters after winning Group II state titles the last two years. They are catcher Shea Walsh, shortstop Chelsea Manto and outfielder/infielder Allie Taylor.
A three-year All-Area selection, Walsh is headed to Marist College. She originally committed to C.W. Post, but then had to make other plans when C.W. Post (a.k.a. Long Island University-Post) dropped its program and merged with LIU-Brooklyn for softball.
Quickly stepping in to sign Walsh was the MAAC’s Marist, who will now follow in the foot steps of Rebecca Freeman, who was a catcher on the first two Robbinsville state champion teams before having an outstanding career for the Red Foxes.
Also a three-year All-Area selection, Manto committed to the strong Hofstra program last spring. She will play next year at Hofstra with former Nottingham great Kristin Hallam. Manto is on course this upcoming season to smashing Hallam’s Mercer County record for career hits.
Finally, Allie Taylor is headed to Iona College. She really came on last season as both a hitter and fielder, and was named to the All-CVC team after helping Robbinsville also win its third straight Mercer County Tournament title.
The demise of the C.W. Post program also resulted in a change of plans for Steinert senior and All-Area pitcher Kaylee Whittaker. Originally committed to C.W. Post along with Walsh, Whittaker is now going to Central Connecticut State, where she will join Carli Backlund.
Whittaker and Backlund, of course, were both members of the Steinert team that took New Jersey by storm last spring by winning the Group III state title for the second time in three years and then capturing the Tournament of Champions as well.
Notre Dame has three returning seniors as well who committed to Division 1 programs on Wednesday. They are catcher Rachel Zingerman (Rhode Island University), outfielder Claire Storms (Miami University of Ohio) and Rachel Carney (Colgate University).