By Josh Perry || HockomockSports.com Managing Editor
In the second game of the 2021 season, the first softball season after the pandemic, then Taunton senior Kelsey White allowed two runs in a win over Attleboro. It would be the only runs that the Tigers gave up that spring, as they overcame a grueling playoff schedule (which included a title game played over two days because of a mid-game thunderstorm) to win the program’s second Div. 1 title in four years.
White was the unquestioned star of the team. She went 16-0 as the starter with a minuscule ERA of 0.14 (and yes, four years later, she is still aggravated by the two runs she gave up to the Bombardiers), 207 strikeouts, and an opposing batting average of 0.091.
College softball is different. There are more than double the number of games and every player on every roster was the star of their high school and travel teams. In high school, White got the ball every day and she dominated. Playing at Villanova has required an adjustment. Not only is she not the ace of the staff but she has spent most of her time as an outfielder or designated player.
“You go from playing every game, being a standout in high school, and then you come to college and you’re playing with players who are as good if not better than you, so it’s a great environment to be around,” White explained in a phone call before the Wildcats traveled to Big East leaders St. John’s.
“I love to compete, but it was definitely a huge adjustment just accepting your role on the team.”
White had a stellar freshman season at Villanova. She started 34 games, made 26 appearances in the circle (going 6-7 with a 3.17 ERA in 77.1 innings), and played 22 games in right field. Overall, she batted 0.302 for the season, one of just three hitters in the lineup to bat over 0.300, and she delivered the biggest hit of the season when her single drove in the only runs of a 3-0 win over UConn in the Big East Championship game.
As a sophomore, she went 11-7 in the circle and again delivered in the clutch, allowing only four hits over five innings against UConn in the Big East semifinal. Last year, she had a career-best 0.285 batting average and a career-low ERA of 3.67 (in 23 appearances) while playing four positions. White struck out six over 5.1 innings in another excellent semifinal performance against UConn and earned Villanova’s second NCAA Tournament win by allowing just one run over five innings against Southeast Missouri.
“Last year I was in and out of the lineup, sophomore year I was in and out of the lineup but I didn’t get too down on myself so when I did get that opportunity I just told myself to make the most of it and good things will happen,” White said.
“I want to be in the game, so whether that’s pitching, whether that’s in the outfield, whether that’s at DH, it doesn’t matter. I want to do what’s best for the team and help the team win.”
No matter where she has lined up, one thing remains the same – winning. Villanova has won the Big East title in two of her three seasons and last spring the Wildcats made history by becoming the first team in program history to play in an NCAA Regional final.
Following a loss to Arizona in the Fayetteville Regional opener, White helped the Wildcats stay alive with a great performance in the circle against Southeast Missouri. Later the same day, Villanova recorded just its third-ever win against an SEC team, knocking off No. 16 Arkansas to reach the final and a rematch with Arizona.
“That was probably one of the best memories I’ve ever made,” White said. “We just honestly came together as a team. We wanted to win for our seniors, we wanted to play together for as long as we could, and we just went out there and played loose and had fun. I’ll be reliving that moment forever.”
It is always news when a team from the Northeast upsets one of the traditional powers, but Villanova has long added College Softball World Series contenders to its early-season schedule, both as a boost to the team’s RPI and to be better prepared for postseason play.
As a freshman, White faced Michigan and Central Florida at the start of the season. Those experiences made her more comfortable taking on that challenge as an upperclassman. “Iit was nerve-wracking but now as a senior we’ve been there and done that. We know what we’re capable of and we know that we can do it. It’s honestly about having confidence in ourselves and our team.”
“We get to represent Villanova and get our name out there and have people thinking, ‘Oh watch out for Villanova and don’t take them lightly, they’re a tough team.’”
How does making history in college compare to winning a state title in high school?
“For the state title, we’re representing the City of Taunton and that’s a huge softball city so there are so many fans that come out and follow and that was just such a great feeling,” White reflected. “For Villanova, the only thing that sucked about that was that no one was on campus. School was over so no one was here to celebrate it.”
Of course, that doesn’t change the fact that the Wildcats made history last season. Now, they’re looking to repeat that magical postseason and are trying to find form at the right time.
Villanova entered the final weekend of the season on a four-game losing streak, including three losses against the conference leaders. The Wildcats have responded with a pair of wins over Providence College (and White’s former Taunton teammate Hannah Aldrich). White went 2-for-2 with a homer in the opener.
The Wildcats currently sit fourth in the Big East standings and in position to take part in the conference tournament, which they will host starting next week. It was always going to be difficult to follow up a historic season, but White is confident that the Wildcats have more to achieve this spring.
“I’ve gone through my entire four years here, you’re going to have those lows but it’s about not letting yourself get too low where you’re not able to get out of it,” she explained. “That all comes back to keeping a positive mindset and having confidence in yourself.”
White added, “Not being comfortable and playing Villanova softball the way we can, which is our offense being explosive. Hopefully we can get some momentum heading into the tournament and when that comes it’s going to be extremely competitive and every game is going to be a grind.”
Can the team put it together to make a run at a third conference title in four seasons? White hopes so. She knows how it feels to close a career with a title and wants to repeat that feat in college.
“I can’t think of a better way to end your softball career and my time here at Villanova.”
Ed. Note – Aldrich didn’t play in the first two games against Villanova this weekend. The senior shortstop has batted 0.293 in 46 games this season (0.311 for her career) and has driven in 22 runs. PC goes into the final game of the Big East season tied with Seton Hall (11-12) for sixth and for the final spot in the conference tournament.
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