Softball Notebook 04-20-16

Catching up with our college girls
By Bill Rudick
brudick55@gmail.com
The Ches-Mont is one of the top leagues in the state in softball, producing tons of quality players. Today, let’s get caught up with some of the girls that have gone on to play in college, with similar success. The following list is by no means complete—if there’s a player you would like to get notice that I don’t mention below, shoot me an email, and we’ll give them a shout out in a future column.
One of the top pitchers in the state in high school when she guided her Bishop Shanahan team to the state finals, Kate Poppe was a sure-fire Division I recruit. Poppe chose to stay local, and is now in her senior year at Villanova.
Poppe broke the Wildcats record for career strikeouts in April of her junior year in 2015, eclipsing the old mark of 718, and has tacked on another 152 in 140 IP this season. She is once again the Villanova ace, with a record of 16-9, with a 2.75 ERA and five shutouts.
Former Oxford catcher Jill Freese is now a senior at Monmouth, where she’s hitting .327. Her team high nine home runs contributes to a team leading slugging percentage of .633. Freese is second on the team in RBI, with 65, and in total bases, with 67.
Former Rustin star Anna Steimetz has wasted no time adjusting to play at the Division I level. The true freshman at the University of Delaware earned her conference’s “Rookie of the Week” honors three times by the end of March. Steinmetz is hitting .294 with a team-high 11 home runs. Steinmetz also leads the team in total bases (77) and is second in RBI with 34.
West Chester University has three Ches-Mont alumni on the roster—Sara Ercolani (Downingtown East); Alyssa Herion (Avon Grove) and Heidi McCollester (Henderson).
Ercolani, a redshirt freshman, is hitting .349, with 40 runs scored and 41 RBI. Ercolani has 73 total bases, and has been successful in 10 of 11 stolen base attempts.
Herion, a true freshman, is hitting at a .338 clip, with 98 total bases. She has 10 homers, and a team high 12 doubles.
In limited action, the freshman McCollester is hitting .304 in 23 at bats.
Sienna sophomore Lauren Butts (Henderson), is 9-6 on the season. Butts has 78 strikeouts in 110 innings pitched, and sports an ERA of 3.59. Most recently, Butts collected the win over St Peters, throwing fiving innings of shut-out ball, and allowing just one base hit.
Butts’ younger sister, Megan, was helping lead Henderson to a hot start this season. Unfortunately, Butts senior season, and her high school career, has come to an end. The Warriors star suffered a season ending ankle injury. She’ll be missed around Chester County, but can get things going again next year when she suits up for the University of New Haven.

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