Alana Weyant is a three-sport star at Chestnut Ridge High School. She's been named a Mirror all-star in softball, basketball and volleyball, and she's the school's career record holder for points.
But her first love is softball.
"It's the sport I spend most of time playing. I even play it when the other sports are going on," she said. "I've always been around it because my dad played. I was born right into it. After that, I always played it."
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Weyant will continue to play the sport she loves at West Virginia State University, a Division II school located about eight miles from Charleston. Weyant signed her letter of intent Friday at Chestnut Ridge.
"A long time ago, the coach e-mailed me about going there," Weyant said. "At first, my plan was to go to Gettysburg, but then I decided to take a shot at West Virginia State. I went down there a couple months ago, and the coach [Bob Allen] said he wanted me.
"The first thing I told my parents when I got home was 'Now I can play my senior year and not have to worry about what I'm doing for college.' "
"I am extremely happy that she chose West Virginia State," Allen said. "I really like her swing, and I think she will be a power hitter for us. When she came to visit, we just really liked her, and we feel she will fit in with our girls."
A plus for Weyant is her versatility. She pitches, and plays first base and third base. She's thrown a no-hitter and a one-hitter this season and had a 1.80 ERA in 2010.
Weyant, who is hitting .500 so far, had two home runs and seven RBIs in the season opener. She hit .508, drove in 40 runs and hit six of her 16 career homers last season.
"There are a lot of places for her to get in the lineup," Ridge coach Chuck Corle said. "I know she really wants to get in the lineup. I think her chances are great. She's a power hitter, has a really good eye for the ball, and I think she's definitely succeed at the next level."
"I believe she is versatile enough that she can play just about anywhere," Allen said. "I really like this kid, and I think she will make an impact immediately."
Weyant said her goal for the rest of the season is to not strike out (she struck out four times as a sophomore and nine times last season). Her goal in college is a simple one.
"The biggest goal is to go in there like I know what I'm doing and earn a starting spot," she said. "If I think further into it, it will be like I've earned a spot, and I haven't."
Weyant said she's not worried about being that far away from home.
"When I was younger, I wanted to go far away," she said. "Now that I'm older, not so much. They have girls from California, and I could be like them. It won't be too bad."
