On Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, Harry S. Truman senior Rachael Alligood signed a letter of intent to play softball at Holy Family University. Alligood is the first Truman softball player in more than a decade to receive a softball scholarship.
Rachael Alligood – Holy Family University (Softball)
Major: Nursing
Final list of colleges: Holy Family, LaSalle, Caldwell
Reasons for choosing Holy Family: “Basically, I picked Holy Family because it was one of the options that was closer (to home), and it has an outstanding nursing program. Playing Division 2 will allow me to excel in that major.
“It’s a relief, a whole flood of (emotions), knowing this is my college, this is where I’m going. All the hard work, all the years and time I put in – it’s all for this. I get a good education. Going to a college that had a nursing program was number one on my list. The school had to have a nursing program, and it had to have a good one because after softball you have to go into the real world, and you have to be prepared for it.”
When did the idea of playing collegiate softball become a reality? “I have been playing (competitive) softball since I was eight years old and pitching since I was 12. I went to a camp when I was 13, and they told us if we played good enough and contacted the coaches we could get a scholarship. They said we would be paid to play, and, of course, that catches your attention because you’re thinking, ‘Wow, I could play softball – something I love doing – and get an education for it.’ If you’re good enough, it will appeal to you, so I started pursuing the whole softball in college option.”
What was the key to your development as a pitcher? “Probably realizing you had to mature to that level for college coaches to take you seriously. It was a personal decision you have to make for yourself. You have to stay in your own mindset and not worry too much about how this play goes or that play goes and not let it affect you but focus on what you have to do to help your team progress.”
Coach Gretchen Cammiso says: “Not only is Rachael an excellent softball player, but her academics are very, very strong. She’s one of the top students here at Truman. She put the work in on both sides, so that she was a very desirable candidate for schools to look at. They didn’t have to give up one to get the other. She was the total package.
“Knowing that last year was crucial, she trusted myself and her new pitching coach (Lauren Cognigni) to do some things that she had never done before. She changed a lot of things, and I think it taught her a lot about herself – that she is talented enough to make those changes. Knowing where she was at, she knew she had to get to the next level in order to make this dream a reality. She really committed to doing a lot of work, and we’re looking forward to Rachael being even better this year than she was last year.
“Rachael’s travel coach for the Sports Connection – Bob Notarfranciso – also has been very good for her. They run a very good program, and he has really helped her out a lot.
“In travel ball, she was surrounded by a lot of girls who were equal to her in terms of ability, but the progression Rachael has gone through at Truman – she played as a freshman, and they didn’t have a great season. My first year here when she was a sophomore was a lot of learning – we made a lot of improvement, but she was playing with people of different abilities, and in some cases, it put more pressure on her because she is a standout player. Last year, she embraced the mindset – stay in your zone, you can’t worry about the things going on around you - you have to stick to what your job is. That was a progression she struggled with as a sophomore and matured during the season last year.
“Rachael is strong. She’s a hard thrower. She’s very competitive. She’s learned, through maturity, to not get rattled. If she’s down 3-0 in the count, she stays confident and battles back. She is able to deal with things not going perfectly around her, and that’s part of her maturity. The other thing is she’s an excellent hitter too. She’s not just a one-trick pony. She’s a strong, strong kid, and she’s intimidating.”
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