Sticking together
JACKSON TWP — Their high school softball success may have been short-circuited by the coronarvirus.
Seneca Valley seniors Maura Pasquale and Kearson Wagner are remaining teammates regardless. Both are headed to Edinboro University.
They will be roommates and hope to be among the cornerstones of a rebuilding process with the Fighting Scots.
“I didn't even know Maura was going there,” Wagner said. “I found that out after I decided to go.”
They did not plan on being college roommates. That occurred through happenstance.
“That's a funny story,” Pasquale said. “There's a group Facebook page at Edinboro for students looking for roommates. I was talking to one girl, Jenna, who said her and another girl were looking for two more to room with.
“When I decided to join them, they said they found the fourth girl. That was Kearson. I mean, what are the odds?”
Wagner calls it a happy coincidence.
“It will be fun,” she said.
Wagner and Pasquale have had plenty of fun on the softball field. Wagner was a first team all-state left fielder for Seneca Valley last season, hitting .453. Pasquale was a first team all-section shortstop who hit over .300.
They were part of a Raider program that compiled a 42-18 overall record, 25-9 in section play over the last three seasons.
“We have five seniors back this year and I think we'd be pretty good,” Wagner said. “All three of our outfielders are seniors and we can hit the ball.
“I'm hoping we'll still play at some point (this spring). If we don't, I've still got a few years to play ball with one of my teammates. That's a good feeling.”
Wagner and Pasquale play softball against each other during the summer. Wagner plays travel ball with the Pitsburgh Passion while Pasquale suits up for the Pittsburgh Predators.“When we play against each other ... I can't outwardly show it, but I root on the inside for Kearson to do well,” Pasquale said.The two will have different majors in college. Wagner will study speech pathology, Pasquale will major in digital media production.While they've known nothing but winning at Seneca Valley, Wagner and Pasquale are joining an Edinboro program that's had two winning seasons in the last decade. One of those years was 2019, when the Fighting Scots were 22-19 overall, 12-8 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.This spring's Edinboro team was 0-12 — outscored 99-28 — when the season was halted by the coronavirus pandemic. The Scots had three seniors on the 2020 squad, 17 freshmen.“Our goals are to get there and help the team win,” Pasquale said. “We may have to wait our turn in terms of starting, but we're confident we'll get some playing time next year.”Pasquale also considered Waynesburg and Slippery Rock before choosing Edinboro.“Once I toured Edinboro, I knew I wanted to go there. It felt like home,” she said.“Wagner also looked at Clarion before deciding on the Scots.“My grandparents live in Erie, so they'll be close,” she said. “It all works out.”
