The Scoop: Harrison is a senior pitcher on the Le Moyne College Softball team. This Canandaigua native knew from a young age that being a softball pitcher was her thing. “At my first ever Little League softball practice, my coach had everyone try to pitch. I caught on pretty quick and never looked back!” Harrison has carried that drive all the way to the college level where you can find her on the mound wearing that #16. Harrison’s final season here at Le Moyne has brought great success. She pitched in 31 games for the Dolphins this season including 17 victories. You might have heard, but Harrison captured a record breaking title this season. In her first game against Pace this season she captured her 75th career win, putting her on the top of the list for most career wins in the schools history. She passed Marnie Sundberg who previously held the record since 2003. Sarah’s continued success over the past four years, especially this year, is why she has been named The Dolphin’s Athlete of the Year!
How she got started: “I am a triplet and my sisters and I had always done every activity together, so I wanted to find something fun that I could do individually. I had heard that there were Little League tryouts going on in my town, so I decided to give it a try!”
Future plans: “I am planning on staying at Le Moyne to get my Master’s Degree in Literacy. My ultimate career goal is to become an elementary school teacher.”
Her feelings about her record setting wins: “I am truly honored and humbled to now hold the career wins record here at Le Moyne, but this would have not been possible without my teammates over the past four seasons. As a pitcher, I am not the player scoring the runs to win games. I can assist in limiting the opposition to minimal runs, but without my teammates generating runs on offense, we cannot be credited with a ‘W’.”
Advice to other players: “My advice for other players would be to never take the game for granted. 50 games a season flies faster than I would have ever imagined before starting college, so try to enjoy and learn from every moment of it!”
Other Awards Sarah has received: NE-10 Conference 1st Team – 2013. NE-10 Conference 2nd Team – 2012, 2014. NE-10 All-Academic Team – 2012, 2013. 2012-2013 NFCA All America Scholar Athlete
What she is taking away from her experience here: “The biggest thing that I am taking away from playing softball at the Division II level is how to live a balanced life. Playing for Le Moyne has given me the opportunity to fully and evenly devote my life to two things that I am very passionate about; athletics and education. Between practicing at a time of day when most college students are never awake, balancing student teaching and missing a significant amount of class for games, this experience has taught me how to be flexible and how to adapt to whatever curve balls life throws my way. It has been a great experience and I honestly would not trade it for anything.”
Closing Comments: “Overall, I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to wear the Le Moyne jersey for the last four years. I have had the chance to play next to many incredible athletes, work with great coaches, and most importantly I have made many life-long friends. Even though the season did not ultimately end how we had hoped, I could not have asked for a better group of talented girls to play my final season with.”
