What is she known for? During her playing career at CoC, Hodgson filled her trophy case. She was named to the SoCon All-Freshman team in 2011 and earned all-conference honors from the SoCon in 2013 and the Colonial Athletic Association in 2014 following the program’s realignment. She was named the Cougars’ Offensive Player of the Year in 2014 and finished her career as the program’s record holder in career home runs and in the all-time top ten in an additional ten offensive categories.

Here’s something interesting… College athletics runs in Hodgson’s family; in addition to her own outstanding softball career, both her father and brother played college football. Her dad played football at Georgia Tech from 1979-81 and her brother played at Mars Hill College from 2007-11.

Quotable quote: “Softball is something you do, it is not your entire identity. It is so easy for us to deem our worth based on our performance, but you are so much more than your statistics, playing time, or record.”

What’s she up to now? Since 2017, Hodgson has been on the coaching staff at Shorter University, a Division II school in Rome, Georgia. After beginning her tenure as a graduate assistant, Hodgson was elevated to an assistant position and now enters her third season as head coach.

In December of this year, Hodgson will be part of a group of coaches and staff members from Shorter that will take a group of nearly two-dozen female student-athletes on a mission trip to Ichmul, Mexico. “Throughout the trip we will have the opportunity to share the Gospel with Mayan communities through different sports camps, clinics, and games,” Hodgson said.

Keep up: You can find Hodgson on both Twitter and Instagram under the handle @kelseyshodgson.

The post Where Are They Now: Kelsey Hodgson appeared first on Justin's World of Softball.

Who is she? Dani Gariglio, a former team captain and outfielder for the Rhode Island Rams.

What is she known for? Gariglio spent four years as a regular starter for the Rams, anchoring the outfield grass as the team’s starting center fielder. She was a team captain in both her junior and senior seasons, and did not make a fielding error during her senior year. She was also an A10 Academic All-Conference honoree as a senior in 2017.

Here’s something interesting…? In addition to her full-time career path after college, Gariglio spent the summer of 2019 as an official statistician for the Chicago Bandits, then of the National Pro Fastpitch softball league. During that summer, Gariglio also happened to be in the official statistician chair for Rachele Fico’s perfect game against the Aussie Peppers.

She also lists a win over Liberty during her junior year as a revered career memory. “It was one of those games [that]you kind of dream about playing in, as a little kid,” Gariglio said. URI beat the Flames 7-3 in eight innings under the lights in Lynchburg; it was the program’s first victory over a Big South team in more than a decade.

Quotable quote? “Probably the biggest thing softball has taught me that has translated into life is that our mistakes don’t have to define us. Whether that’s making an error, missing a sign or striking out, whatever it is, it’s all about that next at bat, that next opportunity. What are you going to do the next time you get a chance to prove yourself? Life is all about how you learn from your mistakes and bounce back.”

What’s she up to now? Since graduating from URI in 2017, Gariglio has worked in college athletics, specifically in athletic communications. She currently works as an assistant director of athletic communications at Davidson College in North Carolina, where she works directly with the program’s volleyball; women’s basketball; tennis; and lacrosse teams.

Keep up: You can find and follow Dani on Twitter @dgarigz11.

The post Where Are They Now: Dani Gariglio appeared first on Justin's World of Softball.

What is she known for? Lewis burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2016, earning all-region and all-conference honors and being selected as a finalist for National Freshman of the Year. She earned All-Academic honors from the conference in each year of her career, and earned a pair of All-CCAA First Team awards as a junior and senior. In 2019, her senior season, she was named the Tritons’ Most Valuable Player and led the conference in defensive assists.

Here’s something interesting… Lewis played baseball through much of her young athletic career, playing Little League baseball and working her way through the program’s various levels. She even played high school baseball, and tried out for the USA Women’s Baseball National Team in 2019… she also comes from an athletic family; both her father and grandfather were collegiate athletes, as each of them played water polo at Cal during their own athletic careers.

Quotable quote: “The game of softball taught me many life skills throughout my playing career. The two that stand out the most are communication and time management. Whether communicating with teammates on the field or communicating with coaches or professors off the field, learning how to reach out, keeping others informed and politely asking for what you might need goes a long way… with that said, learning how to manage my time through softball has been the best lesson I have applied to the real world. Although I am no longer in school, life still has due dates and other expectations that need to be met. Managing work, a social life, and personal time is similar to balancing all the responsibilities as a student-athlete.”

What’s she up to now? Following the end of her playing career, Lewis did not venture very far at all. She joined the UCSD Athletic Communications department and currently serves as the sports information director and main media contact for the Tritons’ track & field, cross country, and softball teams. She actively serves as the Triton softball SID during the program’s first season as a Division 1 program.

Keep up: You can find Lewis on Twitter and Instagram under the handle @maddoglew.

The post Where Are They Now: Maddy Lewis appeared first on Justin's World of Softball.

What is she known for? Blanchard was a mainstay in the early-2010s Michigan batting order, appearing in more than 200 games during her 4-year career in Ann Arbor. After beginning her career as an all-conference catcher, Blanchard was a 2-time All-Region selection as a first baseman in her junior and senior years.

Here’s something interesting… In addition to her previous and continued skills on a softball diamond, Blanchard also has a musical gift and plays the alto and tenor saxophone. She was even a member of the Illinois-Springfield university band in 2020 before the year was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Quotable quote: “[To young softball athletes], enjoy playing the game and putting in the work. It’s tougher than ever to be a young person, especially with social media and the pressure to put yourself out there to the world at all times. The pandemic has made it worse for young athletes trying to get recruited, since you now have to rely on putting so many clips of yourself playing on the Internet. But despite the pressure from Twitter/Instagram, I would like for them to keep in mind that they are not a brand. It’s okay if they don’t have constant content or a ton of followers. Put in the work, whether a camera is present or not. You don’t need a hitting coach, and Rapsodo, and a thousand Instagram followers in order to be a good softball player. It still all comes down to enjoying what you’re doing and putting in the work. Each person’s playing career and recruiting journey is different, so do your best to not compare yourself to everyone else on the Internet and stay focused on what you love about the game and how you can get better.”

What’s she up to now? After graduating from Michigan in 2014, Blanchard worked in a handful of various roles, including refereeing some non-diamond sports and as a high school softball coach. After a couple of years of coaching in the high school ranks, she entered the collegiate coaching world. After two years on staff at Black Hills State, she took on a role at Division 2 Illinois-Springfield, where she is currently the program’s top assistant coach.

Keep up: Find Blanchard on Twitter @blanchard_44, and keep up with the UIS Prairie Stars on the same platform, @uis_softball.

The post Where Are They Now: Caitlin Blanchard appeared first on Justin's World of Softball.

What is she known for? Hedrick was a four-year standout shortstop during her playing career for the Wildcats, which stretched from 2015-18. Hedrick earned all-conference honors in each of her four years in Abilene, including first-team nominations in 2015 and 2017. She earned a pair of All-Region honors, also in ’15 and ’17, and was the ACU Female Athlete of the Year as a freshman. During her junior season, Hedrick was named an NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete. She finished her career with 47 career home runs and 156 career runs scored; both are program records.

Here’s something interesting… Hedrick’s mother, Debbie Nichols-Hedrick, played college softball at Louisiana Tech and is a member of the Lady Techsters’ Hall of Fame. The elder Hedrick earned three All-American honors during her playing career, led her team to three consecutive NCAA tournament berths, and pitched every inning of the 1988 season for the Lady Techsters (409 innings in total, if you’re counting).

Quotable quote: “One lesson I learned from playing softball is to work hard in everything you do and to cherish each moment. Softball taught me to always give everything I have, no matter what I am doing. This is beneficial to me in my post-playing life as I begin my search for a career [that]I hope allows me to teach and help others. Life goes by quickly, and I have learned to appreciate it and the people around me.”

What’s she up to now? After her playing career ended, Hedrick pursued a Master’s degree and worked as a graduate assistant coach for the ACU softball team. She later also worked in the school’s financial aid office. Now living in the Dallas area, where she is originally from, Hedrick currently works as a property manager for Elite Recovery.

Keep up: You can find Hedrick on Twitter and Instagram at the handle @peyhedrick.

The post Where Are They Now: Peyton Hedrick appeared first on Justin's World of Softball.

What is she known for? Stracher started 190 games in her four years at Towson, a career that spanned from 2015-18. She earned all-region first-team honors, along with an all-conference second-team nomination, as a sophomore and helped lead the Towson program to the first postseason appearance in program history with a berth in the 2018 NISC tournament. During her sophomore season, Stracher set the program’s single-season records for home runs, RBIs, and runs scored; in addition, her 41 career home runs remain the program’s all-time record.

Here’s something interesting… One of several athletes in her family, Stracher’s sister Brittany played softball at Newbury College in the early 2010s. Her father, Jeffrey, also played college football at Alfred University, a Division III school, in the 1980s.

Quotable quote: “The best way to stay motivated through all the practices is to tell yourself that no matter how hard you think you’re working, there is always someone out there working harder. Also, don’t forget to take a step back every once in a while, and enjoy the moment.”

What’s she up to now? A native of the Northeast, Stracher moved south after graduation from Towson and now resides in Florida. She currently works in the sales management industry, and after taking some needed space from the game of softball, she returned to the diamond in the fall of 2019 when she joined a slowpitch softball league.

Keep up: You can find Stracher on Instagram here.

The post Where Are They Now: Shelby Stracher appeared first on Justin's World of Softball.

What is she known for? Andreana began her career at Western Texas College, transferring to Oregon State prior to her sophomore season. She spent three years at OSU from 2011-13, earning all-conference Honorable Mention honors in 2011 and helping lead the Beavers to consecutive NCAA tournament appearances in 2012 and ’13.

Here’s something interesting… In 2010, Andreana was a member of the Canadian national team and helped lead the squad to a bronze medal at the 2010 World Championships.

Quotable quote: “The ability to be adaptable [was one skill that I learned that has helped me in post-college life]. College athletics is such a beautiful thing because you are thrown into a group of people from different places, walks of life, and backgrounds with one common goal and are expected to find a way to work together towards it. This forces you to learn the personable skills to succeed in business and in life.”

What’s she up to now? Following her playing career, Andreana embarked on a coaching career that included stops at Black Hills State, North Dakota, and UNLV. In July of 2019, Andreana was named the head coach at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. She led the program to a 13-5 overall record during the abbreviated 2020 season. SFU is currently the only NCAA team located outside the United States.

Keep up: You can find Andreana on Twitter and Instagram.

The post Where Are They Now: Tina Andreana appeared first on Justin's World of Softball.

What is she known for? Young began her playing career at Kent State before transferring to New Mexico. She was a 2-time academic all-conference selection as the starting catcher for the Lobos, and as a junior, she threw out twenty runners trying to steal. Young spent one summer season playing professionally for the Akron Racers in 2010, and later embarked on a coaching career that included stints on staff at her alma mater, UNM; Ohio University; and Western Illinois. She spent one year as the interim head coach of the Leathernecks before being named head coach at Detroit Mercy. She departed the Titans’ program after two years in charge.

 Here’s something interesting… A double-major in college, Young got her degree in American Sign Language Interpreting and Intercultural Communications. She logged more than 200 hours as a sign language interpreter while she was in college and her original career goal was to be an interpreter as her career. “Some of my favorite memories were at very cool interpreting gigs and actually uniquely introduced me to other fun life interests like Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art,” Young said. “That training was actually what rehabilitated my shoulder.”

Quotable quote: “I think the lesson I just recently learned is that the person you are coaching is the ONLY THING that matters. I’ve always had a handle on the X’s and O’s, but my ego only let me see how important winning was. Now, I see the kid’s heart, her needs, I try and learn her ‘love languages’, and I work hard to make sure each kid’s cup is full when they leave the field. You know, it’s easy to think that kids are all just as passionate about the sport and wanting to be the best as I was. But, in some ways, this kid may simply look forward to being on the field because this fills spaces for them and makes them feel whole. Why not give them that? Why assume that winning is THAT important. And, I’m sure it’s no surprise to you, that the more we focus on lifting kids up, the more they serve to lift others up, and the easier it becomes for us to win more than we don’t.”

What’s she up to now? After her tenure at Detroit Mercy, Young left the coaching profession on what she thought would be a permanent basis. She entered the retail world, and now works for an staffing firm as a Director of Recruiting. In addition, after several years away from the game, she returned to the field on a temporary basis that has turned into a permanent role that continues even to the present day. She owns and directs the Northern Nevada Tilt organization along with a group of other coaches, and handles the player development for the program. She has also started a mentorship and life coaching program called Life Mastery.

Keep up: You can keep up with the Northern Nevada Tilt on their Facebook page.

The post Where Are They Now: Liz Young appeared first on Justin's World of Softball.

What is she known for? During her career as an Eagle, Zgrabik batted .333, with 42 career home runs and 153 RBIs. She committed just six field errors during her playing days, and posted a career on-base percentage of .422. A 2-time all-region honoree and 3-time all-conference standout, Zgrabik was named the ASun Co-Player of the Year in 2013.

Here’s something interesting…Chelsea comes from an athletic family. Her dad and uncle were both drafted to NHL teams; Michael, her father, was drafted to the Maple Leafs, while her uncle, David, was taken by the Blackhawks.

Quotable quote: “I always bring this up in conversation, but time management has been the biggest skill/ lesson that I have taken into non-softball life. I swear there is nothing like ’15 minutes early is on time’ being stuck in your head… I have prided myself on being early, never late, and being able to multi-task like a champ as well.”

What’s she up to now? Now Mrs. Chelsea Davis, her playing career is not over! Following her graduation from FGCU, the slugger joined a slowpitch softball team that plays two weekends a month for a 6-month season. She also belongs to Team USA’s slowpitch organization, now in her third season, and is a player rep for Easton Sports in that role. Outside of softball, Chelsea is just a few months away from finishing her BSN degree and embarking on a career in the medical field as a nurse.

Keep up: You can find Chelsea on Instagram.

The post Where Are They Now: Chelsea Zgrabik appeared first on Justin's World of Softball.

What is she known for? A three-time All-Conference selection during her playing career, Antone earned first-team honors in 2017. She batted .379 for her career, with 93 RBIs and 89 runs scored, and holds the Winthrop program record for on-base percentage (.469) and slugging percentage (.592). In 2014, she was named the Big South’s Freshman of the Year and was named to the conference’s all-freshman team that same year.

Here’s something interesting… In late June, Antone was named to the Big South’s All-Decade Team for the 2010s. The 13th player in program history named to an All-Decade team for the conference, Antone was the only Eagle represented on the 2010s squad.

Quotable quote: “The biggest lesson or skill I have taken from this sport is understanding that there is no room bigger than the room for improvement. You will never grow to your full potential if you think you know more than you do! Knowledge is power.”

What’s she up to now? After spending the last two years as an instructor for D-BAT – during which she was nominated for D-BAT Female Instructor of the Year and finished as the award’s runner-up – Antone is now working on a project of establishing an indoor facility in Clover, South Carolina that is designed to “educate and coach female student athletes to get to the next level.” She continues to coach at both the high school and 18U travel ball levels.

Keep up: You can find Antone on Instagram under the handle @madelynn_rose17.

The post Where Are They Now: Maddie Antone appeared first on Justin's World of Softball.