Council Rock South softball players lead 15 college commits to next level

Flanked by her family and coaches, Council Rock South middle infielder Phylicia Wilkov, front & center, committed to the Yale University softball program in a commitment ceremony held recently at CRS. (Steve Sherman – 21st-Century Media)

SOUTHAMPTON – Last Friday at Council Rock South, 15 Golden Hawks playing nine sports committed to a dozen different colleges or universities.

They have one thing in common. So says CR South softball Coach Greg Heydet.

“When you have Division I or II players, their attitudes, desire and friendship is basically the same,” said the coach. “The reason that they are good is because they work hard, they listen and they make adjustments.”

Two of Heydet’s players – Phylicia Wilkov and Melanie Wilkinson – are moving on to the next level with the former player going to Yale and the latter headed to Rider.

Wilkov started out freshman year playing the outfield but moved to shortstop. Last year she played both short and third base.

On offense is where Phylicia made a huge adjustment in the middle of her varsity career. She changed her batting stance at the beginning of last season and it paid huge dividends her junior year.

After batting .311 as a sophomore, Wilcov turned in a .463 clip last year. She led the Golden Hawks with 25 hits, three doubles and an on-base percentage of .508. She was also tied for the team lead with 14 runs scored and was second with 15 RBIs.

“She was our most consistent power hitter last year,” said Heydet. “She believes in the coaches and will do whatever makes the team successful.”

Her first two years at South, Wilkinson played third base. Last year, she offered to help out in the outfield, since the Hawks had a sudden weakness there. The coach says she should be back at third base for her senior year.

Those attributes are just part of the reason why her teammates recently elected Melanie to a second year as co-captain.

“The last two years, Wilkinson has matured as a player and teammate,” said Heydet. “She constantly looks to help.”

As a sophomore, Melanie batted .349 while leading the team with four home runs and 16 RBIs. Last year, Wilkinson was third at CR South with a .385 batting average. With an on-base percentage of .445, she also led the Hawks with five home runs and 17 RBIs.

Heydet says had CR South had an outfield fence, Melanie would’ve had at least 10 home runs. She brings a lot of power to the plate and is a verbal player on the field, he adds.

“Melanie reads the ball well off the bat. She is a very hard-nosed player who works very hard on her game.”

COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2017 Athletic Commitments

Josh Kim              Baseball               Villanova University

Lukas Clark          Golf       Penn State University

Griffin Smith      Golf       Rider University

Caroline McGovern         Field Hockey      Boston College

Sarah Womer    Field Hockey      Shippensburg University

Joe Doyle            Wrestling             Binghamton University

Zach Trampe      Wrestling             Binghamton University

Jenna Fox            Swimming           West Chester University

Maria Buonomo               Soccer   Mount St. Mary University

Kasey Schlupp   Soccer   Philadelphia University

Jesse Magee      Soccer   West Chester University

Payton Spadaccino          Basketball           Bloomsburg University

Phylicia Wilkov  Softball Yale University

Melanie Wilkinson           Softball Rider University

Mary Kate Simpson         Lacrosse               Iona College