Sports

Eastern Tech Senior Hopes to Sparkle on Diamond

Softball player Allison Williams gets an opportunity to display her skills at the national Queen of Diamonds college showcase.

Allison Williams had a productive junior season this past spring for Eastern Tech's softball team but occasionally, even solid performances can go unnoticed by college recruiters.

Williams, a second baseman, batted .418 with 18 RBIs and was selected to the Baltimore County Coaches All-County second team. However, the high school season is  played at the same time as the college schedule so sometimes, it takes a little extra effort to get on the radar of college coaches.

That means players such as Williams have to spend their summers doing whatever they can to bring attention to themselves.

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Williams, who also played for the U-18 Lady Orioles summer team, will try do just that Sept. 3-4 when she travels to Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., to participate in the Queen of Diamonds college showcase. She will be among about 250 participants at the showcase, which had more than 2,000 players apply.

"It's a really exciting opportunity to show college coaches we can play at the next level," said Williams, who hopes to play at Shepherd University, a Division II program in Shepherdstown, WV, where her brother  is set to play baseball.

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As part of the showcase, Williams will participate in a number of drills, including fielding, hitting and throwing, and she'll get to participate in games as college coaches do their evaluations.

"I wish I had a whole team of players like Allison," Lady Orioles coach Pauline Prince said. "She is so smart and aware of what she needs to do out on the field."

Eastern Tech coach Jack Meyers said he has no doubt that Williams —who helped lead the Mavericks to an 18-1 record and a berth in the Class 2A North region finals — will shine at the showcase.

"Allison had the best hands of any player on the team last year," Meyers said. "She was a quiet leader who I could count on to deliver in any situation. She will definitely get noticed by some quality college coaches."

NOTE: Eastern Tech catcher/outfielder Alexis Peay was also invited to the softball showcase, but will not participate. The first-team all-county selection last season batted .507 with 21 stolen bases.

"She is the best athlete I have ever coached," Meyers said of Peay.


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