On Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, North Penn seniors Micki Secoda, Sophia Collins and Elizabeth Stark were recognized for committing to play collegiate softball.
Sophia Collins – Kutztown University (Softball)
Major: Business
Final list of colleges: Kutztown, Moravian, West Chester
Reasons for choosing Kutztown: “I chose Kutztown because I really liked the campus a lot, and I really liked the coach – she made me feel welcome, and the program she has is a really good program. They made feel really welcome. Also, my sister goes to Kutztown, so that was another reason.”
Coach Rick Torresani says: “Sophia is a four-year starter. She started freshman year playing center field and was one of the best center fielders in the league. In her junior year last year, she
finally got a chance to play her natural position, which is shortstop, and she was second team all-league. She batted .315 with 14 RBIs and three home runs. The key with Sophia is – when we needed someone to come up big, she was one of the girls that came up big, especially in the state playoffs where in the semifinal game against Canon McMillan in the second inning she started us off with a two-run home run that was just a shot and got us going to where we scored 10 runs and beat the team in five innings. In the state championship game and through the tournament, she didn’t commit one error. She had 17 chances, and the big play she made in the state championship game was when we completed a double play. Sophia is so athletic that the throw was there, but the arm strength that she got the girl at first base which shut Haverford down again – that was a big play for us. She had a triple in the state championship game that was off the top of the fence that was 220 feet away. She has improved so much that she can play any position. She told me the other day that she’d even try pitcher if we needed her. She can catch, she can do everything, and Kutztown is just getting an awesome player. I believe that when she walks on that campus she’s going to be a starter day one and lead Kutztown to the PSAC championship. That’s the talent she has. She’s our captain this year, and she promised that we would be taking another visit to State College, so congratulations to Sophia.”
About Sophia:
Favorite food: Pasta
Favorite movie: Mama Mia
Favorite TV show: The Vampire Diaries
Micki Secoda – Mercy College (Softball)
Major: Education with a minor in English
Final list of colleges: Mercy, Susquehanna, West Virginia Wesleyan
Reasons for choosing Mercy College: “I ended up choosing Mercy because they were actually one of the first schools I visited and the first college coach I got to talk to. It was just one of those schools that stuck with me. As I was looking at other schools, I would compare other schools to Mercy. The second I met the team – I saw how close they were with each other and how much fun they had with each other. I just knew that was where I was meant to go.”
Coach Rick Torresani says: “Micki has been part of the program for the last three years. Micki pitches, she plays all three outfield positions, she’s an aggressive player, and she works on her skills year round. The neat part about Micki is she pushes every player on the team. She may not be playing at the moment, but every practice to her is a game. Last year we sent her down to jayvee to
get some good at-bats, so she was ready when the district and state playoffs started. Every coach and every player on the team recognizes what she meant to us last year. Coach Rambo said - she works hard, she never gives up, she works on her game, and she did outstanding for her, and that’s why we brought her up to play for us at the end of the year and during the playoffs. If you would see Micki in the dugout with her teammates, it was just remarkable for a young lady who is talented and could play at any other high school and could have started on day one as a freshman. It’s tough here. North Penn’s a big school. There are a lot of athletes. This young lady never gave up and is still pushing to earn that starting spot her senior year. You can talk about all the Division 1 athletes, you can talk about all the Division 2 athletes, and the kids that play every game, give everything they have and get all the accolades, and we’ve had a few, especially last year. This young lady means the world to the team, to the players and to the coaching staff. I am just as proud of her for what she’s accomplished to be able to go to a Division 2 school, Mercy College, as I am of anybody that’s played here before. Micki, you deserve everything you’ve gotten and you’re going to get more. Congratulations.”
About Micki:
Favorite food: Mac ‘n Cheese
Favorite movie: It
Favorite TV show: Stranger Things
Elizabeth Stark – Mercy College (Softball)
Major: Biology with a minor in Spanish
Final list of colleges: Mercy, Gettysburg, Molloy
Reasons for choosing Mercy: “Mercy just stuck out to me because it’s a beautiful campus – it’s right next to the Hudson River, which is a great location. The team was just amazing. They were very welcoming, and it just felt like home there.”
Coach Rick Torresani says: “I remember Liz as a freshman coming down to workouts after transferring in from the city. She’s a tremendous athlete, a tremendous player. She started out in ninth grade being our DP (designated player) and did a great job. I was very proud of her being a freshman and moving into a team that was pretty much upperclassmen. That’s hard to do, and it never fazed her. As a sophomore losing the season to COVID, we didn’t get a chance to practice or play, but as a junior, she came out ready to play. Again, as with Micki, it’s a tough school, and we happened to have five sophomores and freshmen come in that were very, very good. Liz continued to work hard, and again, she went down to get some at-bats at jayvee and did well down there. Obviously, Liz has worked very hard in the offseason and for her travel team to be able to get a scholarship at Mercy College in Division 2 and going there with Micki. She’s an outstanding, talented young lady. The more work she puts in, the better she’s going to be, and obviously, over the summer, she did that. I’m very proud of her, and I want to wish her good luck at Mercy. I think she has a chance to start from day one as Micki does, and I hope everything works well for you, Liz.”
About Elizabeth:
Favorite food: Popcorn
Favorite movie: Nightmare Before Christmas
Favorite TV show: Locke and Key
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