Sports
Alyssa Vanderveer Headed to Penn State
Hard-working softball slugger set to join Big 10 program after graduation.
Catcher Alyssa VanDerveer has been an anchor for the Hillsborough High School softball team, proving as much a threat at bat as she is on defense.
As a junior, Alyssa knocked five home runs, and recorded a .485 batting average—plus an incredible .609 on-base average.
Those skills caught the attention of the coaching staff at Penn State, and on Wednesday, Alyssa inked her letter of intent to head to State College after graduation.
She had committed to Penn State last year, as a junior, but is now set to play ball in the Big 10 spotlight.
"I'm so excited—I literally texted (Coach Cheryl Ionone) every day, giving her a countdown," Alyssa said.
She didn't have to text mom and dad—Janice and Jim VanDerveer—since there's a good chance they were together driving to one of Alyssa's games anyway: she plays on several prestigous travel teams that keep the family on the move.
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