North Penn seniors Miranda Sergas, Steph Farrar and Mary Ward were part of the Blue Thunder squad that advanced to the Elite Eight at the 2010 Pony Nationals, which guaranteed the team a spot in nationals next year. All three will continue their softball careers at the collegiate level.
Miranda Sergas – Moravian College (Softball)
Major: Political Science
Final list of colleges: Moravian, West Chester, Bloomsburg, West Virginia
Reasons for choosing Moravian: “What I really like about it is the aspect that they know who you are, and the people on the coaching staff are like your parents. They talk to you and involve you in things. The team is like a family, and they’re really good. They were ranked eighth in the nation in D-III.
“They have a really good political science program, and they’ll help me get a job when I’m through school. I’m really happy with the choice I made.”
When did the idea of playing collegiate softball become a reality? “I actually wanted to play volleyball in college, but that didn’t really work out, so I was like, ‘You know what – I have played softball my entire life,’ and in my junior year, I started making tapes. We sent the tapes out, and I really wanted to play in college. I love softball. It’s always been a part of my life.”
North Penn coach Rick Torresani says: “The school Miranda is going to is a perfect fit. It’s a small school, but they play really good softball. I think her position will be in the outfield where she played as a junior and sophomore for us. She’s a good power hitter, but once she learns to hit the gaps and use her speed – because she’s a quick girl too – I think she will be even better. She has a great attitude towards softball. She’s a hard-nosed player, a throwback. She puts everything she has into the game and is so competitive.
Blue Thunder coach Dan Hayes says: “Miranda is at the top of the list as far as intensity is concerned. She’s extremely competitive. She’s well-skilled, and she has the desire and the intensity to play next year right away.”
Steph Farrar – Gwynedd-Mercy College (Softball)
Major: Early Elementary/Special Education
Final list of colleges: Gwynedd-Mercy, Arcadia, West Chester, Bloomsburg
Reasons for choosing Gwynedd-Mercy: “I loved the small campus, and I liked the smaller class sizes - you’re more one-on-one with the teachers. I liked the idea that I could get a triple certificate because I’m not sure if I want to do just early elementary or special education. My first semester I’ll have a special education class, and I’ll already be working with children on campus.
“The softball team seems like fun - I’ve met a few of the girls and like them.”
How did the broken left wrist that sidelined you almost your entire junior season impact you? “I’m just excited to be back. I always think when I go up to bat or I’m in the field, ‘This could be my last play, and I want to make the most of it.’ It really has changed my whole play.
“(The injury) was stressful. I would watch everybody else play, and I’d want to be in that situation. The pain was horrible. I had a lot of physical therapy afterwards to get my wrist moving again. I still have problems with it, but I just do as much as I can. I started pitching a little bit for our travel team in nationals, so I’m starting to get back into it, but it’s just a lot on my wrist. I’m just happy to be back.”
North Penn coach Rick Torresani says: “When she got hurt, it took her a while to get back to where she was when she left off last year. As the season went on this year, she started getting the clutch hits and getting the key RBIs. She’s a lefty, and she has great softball instincts. She can hit for power, she hits line drives, and she hits to the opposite field. She’s a clutch hitter, and it wasn’t until the middle of the year that she got back to where she was. She ended up hitting .400, but it took a while for her to get back. I think she will do very well at Gwynedd.”
Blue Thunder coach Dan Hayes says: “Steph came back from that injury, and she threw some innings for us at nationals and really did a nice job. I was visualizing what might have been if she hadn’t gotten hurt. I remember back to the winter before her (wrist) injury I went to watch her pitch, and she was really coming along big time. Offensively, she is really, really good. She just absolutely crushes the ball. All hitters go through minor slumps, which to her means a couple of groundouts and a popup, but most of the time she’s hitting line drive after line drive. She hits the ball so hard.”
Mary Ward – Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Softball)
Major: Special Education
Final list of colleges: IUP, West Chester, Mount St. Mary
Reasons for choosing IUP: “I immediately fell in love with the campus, and I felt it was the best fit for me academically as well as athletically.”
When did the idea of playing collegiate softball become a reality? “I always knew I wanted to play softball for as long as possible. Sports have been such a huge part of my life for so long. I couldn’t imagine not playing any more. As coaches started showing interest in me through showcase tournaments and my high schools games, I knew I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to play.”
Coach Rick Torresani says: “Mary is the best player I have coached in the over 30 years I’ve coached softball. She’s a five-tool player. She can do it all. She can run, she can hit from both sides of the plate, she can slap, and she has a tremendous arm. She’s the best third baseman I have ever had, but I think if she played center field, she could be the best centerfielder, or if she played shortstop, she could be the best shortstop I ever had. She’s just a very, very talented softball player.”
Blue Thunder coach Dan Hayes says: “I have been coaching for quite a while, and Mary is right in the top group I have ever been around. She has all the tools, and she has the attitude. She’s just a great kid to coach with the tools and tons and tons of ability.”
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