Mount Saint Mary Academy senior Katie Haley of Colonia signed her college letter of intent on Thursday, November 14 in a special ceremony on the school’s campus. Haley, a standout pitcher on the Academy softball team, will attend and compete for Drexel University next school year.
“I’m very excited for Drexel,” Haley said. “The team is very close and I’m happy to be part of that kind of atmosphere.”
In three years on varsity thus far, Haley has maintained a winning record with a 1.81 ERA. She has recorded 464 strikeouts against 93 walks in 310 innings. Always the versatile player, her career batting average is .395 with 11 doubles, one triple, three home runs, and 50 RBI.
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Last season, Haley had a 14-7 pitching record with a 0.88 ERA. She struck out 230 batters (twelfth most in the state) and walked only 26 in 143 innings. Offensively, she had a .451 batting average with six doubles, one triple, two home runs, and 28 RBI in 71 at-bats.
Like so many Mount senior athletes, it is the camaraderie of the team that Haley says she will miss the most after this upcoming season ends.
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“I love our girls,” she said. “I think back to being a freshman and building such a great bond with the upperclassmen. I loved going into the program and felt part of the team as soon as I tried out. As a senior, I’m so happy to be in the position that those girls were for me.”
The team will miss Haley as well. She has been a leader on the varsity squad and an accomplished player. She was named to The Star-Ledger All-Somerset County First Team as a sophomore and a junior. During that time, she was also designated First Team All-Skyland Conference, as voted by the conference's coaches. During the Mount’s off-season, Haley plays for the Jersey Flames travel team.
“Katie is a fierce competitor who has worked long and hard to reach her goals,” said Mount softball coach and Assistant Directress Ms. Denise Materia. “Her determination is infectious. Her dedication, work ethic, and focus have made her a force on the mound. Over the past three seasons, she has been the face of Mount softball.”
As she looks ahead to college, Haley is just as excited about her academic schedule as she is her softball schedule. An aspiring fashion designer, Haley currently takes Advanced Placement Studio Art at the Mount as an independent study and serves as vice president of the National Art Honor Society.
