By Steve Svetovich
A major bright spot for the Dunmore Lady Bucks softball team this season is freshman Rachel Walsh.
Dunmore has its very own Shohei Ohtani in the multi-talented freshman who excels both on the mound and at the plate.
Daughter of Kevin and Michele Walsh, Rachel, 15, is among the Lackawanna Division II softball pitching leaders in wins, strikeouts and earned run average (2.90). She is also among the Lackawanna Division II softball leaders in batting average, doubles and runs scored. She is batting close to .500 and was tied for the league lead in doubles at press time.
The freshman standout pitched her first career complete game shutout, 1-0, with 12 strikeouts against Lakeland.
She is also a member of the Dunmore Lady Bucks basketball state championship team. “That felt really great,” she said. “It was a surreal feeling being on the court celebrating a state championship with my teammates. Being a freshman on the team, everyone was so welcoming to me. I loved it. It was so great being a part of it.”
The freshman scholar-athlete has a 98 academic average at Dunmore. Her best subject is math.
Rachel also plays softball for the NEPA Shock 16U travel team. She has been playing AAU softball since age 11.
Rachel talked about what it takes to excel as a softball pitcher in high school.
“You need confidence and determination,” she said. “You need to want to get that batter out. You have to stay positive. You definitely can’t get down on yourself.”
Rachel is a member of the Earth Club, Art Club, French Club, and TACT at Dunmore.
“Dunmore High School has been really good for me so far,” she said. “It’s an adjustment going to high school, but it’s going very well. I’m making a lot of friends and that helps a lot. The teachers are great.”
Articulate and genuine, Rachel said her parents are her biggest boosters. “They teach me to work hard and never give up. They tell me to go after my dreams. They always have my back.”
Rachel is also learning a lot from Dunmore softball coach Ryan Ferguson. “He tells me things will happen, but you always need to work hard. He tells me to stay confident and to always be prepared for bigger and better competition.”
The freshman standout said her ultimate goal would be to study engineering and play softball for the Division I University of Florida Gators.
“I would love to be a Gator,” she said. “I want to move down south and become an engineer. I want to play Division I softball. Someday I would like to be an engineer for an amusement park like Disney World or Universal Studios in Florida.”
In the meantime, Rachel will be making memories over the next few years at Dunmore before she begins to chase her star.
“I just want to keep getting better and help our team,” she said. “Just keep working hard.”