May 19, 2006

For the majority of varsity athletes, graduation is the end of an era. All students must bid goodbye to their roommates, dorm rooms and Fridays off, but for student-athletes they must also say farewell to the sport that has been their life for the last four years. This weekend, as Villanova celebrates the class of 2006, some Wildcat softball alums will be carrying on the dream that so many athletes must give up to enter the "real world."

Veronica Alvarez and Shannon Williams donned their caps and gowns last spring leaving behind a team that went 149-82-1 over four years. Of the eight seniors, each went their separate way, but a love of the game has brought Alvarez and Williams back together again.

"After college I really missed softball and thought that I would never play again, then Shannon and I decided to find a team to play on and suddenly I found myself out of retirement," said Alvarez. "I missed softball a lot since it had been part of my life for 16 years. I also missed being part of a team, especially after playing with such a great group of girls during my four years of college."

Both Alvarez and Williams will be playing with El Club Antorcha de Valencia in Valencia, Spain this summer. The team is part of Spain's La Division de Honor which is its highest level of professional softball. El Club Antorcha de Valencia travels all over the country and even plays in other parts of Europe. The team qualified for the Eurocup last season so both former Wildcats will have an opportunity to showcase their skills on an international stage.

Shannon Williams

"Any team will improve with the addition of Shannon and Veronica. They are both strong athletes and very competitive," said Associate Head Coach Linda Goss. "The team will also gain sudden surge of personality because the two of these players together also make a team so much stronger off the field. It may take Veronica and Shannon a few weeks to get Spanish cheering down, but I think they will, and once they do, watch out! It will be exciting to see how much this team improves with this dynamic duo!"

Going from the friendly confines of Villanova Softball Field to Spain has not been the natural transition that most American professional athletes experience. After graduation, Alvarez and Williams took very different paths to end up in the same place.

Williams left Villanova as one of the top pitchers in Wildcat history. She currently ranks second with 698 career strikeouts, tied for first with 69 wins and is one of only six `Cats to ever pitch a no hitter. After graduation, Williams moved to California to work and spend her free time snowboarding. When the opportunity to go overseas presented itself, she jumped at the chance to continue her career.

"I missed playing softball and I enjoy traveling to other countries. The team from Spain agreed to take both me and Veronica. That helped my decision as well."

Alvarez went back home to Miami after getting her degree but she knew that the chance to play professionally was too good to pass up. She began working at MTV Latin American where her ability to speak Spanish was incredibly helpful. Soon after working on the Latin Video Music Awards, Alvarez was offered an editing position with CBS.

"When I was offered the opportunity to come to Spain I knew I had to take it. I was sick of the early mornings and I knew that this would be a chance of a lifetime, so I said goodbye to CBS and hello to Spain!"

The two Wildcats now spend their days practicing and helping coach younger players. The team looks to be a favorite this season with five players from the Spanish national team returning. While Williams is attempting to master the language, Alvarez has jumped into the role as team translator with her strong Spanish background. The pitcher/catcher combination will be a success as Williams' arm and Alvarez behind the plate has proven effective.

Said Alvarez, "Shannon will be pitching and I will be catching; a great combination since we´ve been pitching and catching together for the past 5 years."

While the 2005 Wildcats will be playing all over Europe, another former `Cat has found professional opportunities in the United States.

Jackie Pasquerella left Villanova in 2001 as one of the best infielders the program had seen. Her .400 career batting average and 274 career hits are the best in school history. Not to be outdone in the field, she holds the best single season fielding percentage by a Villanova infielder with a .989 in 2001. Pasquerella is known as the only Wildcat to ever earn All-Big East honors four straight years.

Since graduating, the Bayshore, N.Y. native also went overseas to play in Milano, Italy for a season. After returning to the States, she played for the Allentown Patriots before joining the New York Juggernaut of National Pro Fastpitch where she was on the 2004 East All-Star squad. This season, Pasquerella has signed with the New England Riptide of NPF.

Riptide GM Joe Adlman said of her signing, "In my opinion and many others', Jackie is the finest defensive third baseman in the league,

Jackie Pasquerella will be playing for the New England Riptide in 2006.

perhaps the world. Her quickness and ability to cover the line and the five, six hole is incredible. Her addition will undoubtedly give the Riptide the finest infield anywhere."

Villanova Head Coach Maria DiBernardi agreed stating, "Jackie Pasquerella is player that could be any team's best third baseman, shortstop, first baseman, catcher and outfielder, she is that sound defensively. She is by far the strongest third baseman that we have ever had at Villanova. Add to that her ability to hit both ways and run, and she is player that every team hopes to have at their core. New England is very lucky to have signed her."

Pasquerella spends her off season teaching physical education after earning her Master's in Phys. Ed. from Hofstra University. While her love for the sport brought her back to softball, Pasquerella sees challenges playing professionally in the US.

"Playing professional is difficult for me because it doesn't pay year round. So during the off season I am a physical education teacher. The season overlaps by a little over a month so its difficult to find time to train and someone to train with that is at your level before you get to spring training or in my case get to a game situation immediately."

With the challenges each player faces, all would agree that they miss the camaraderie of Villanova Softball.

"What I miss most about VU softball is the team that I was on all four years. All of us got along so great and played well together. We were like a family and had great chemistry. I miss (Head Coach) Maria (DiBernardi) and (Associate Head Coach) Linda (Goss) too, they taught me a lot about softball and life," said Williams.

Pasquerella added, "I miss my teammates because we had such a close bond. I miss going to South Campus to all eat together. We enjoyed many laughs together as a tight group and we still remain extremely close to this day. I miss the snowball fights, the water guns fights, etc. We were all so very competitive so I miss training together. We would constantly push each other or compete with one another and that was fun."

With their days on the Main Line behind them, each former Wildcat has chosen a different path, but each can attest to the fact that softball has shaped their life. No matter if they are on the field in Barcelona, Spain or traveling to Akron, Ohio for a night game against the Racers these Wildcats are living out their dreams of playing professional softball.

For more information on NPF or the New England Riptide go to www.neriptide.com.