Savoring Success: Western New York's Influence on Saints Softball

Everybody is connected in some way in Buffalo. It’s the classic line we’ve all heard living in Western New York … my sister-in-law ran into someone the other day who I think you might want to meet.

That’s exactly what happened to D’Youville Softball Head Coach Shelly Hoerner last summer. Hoerner’s sister-in-law Julie went into a local Mighty Taco and was greeted by the 6’2” Summer Clark. Inquisitively Julie asked, “Did you play basketball in college?” “No,” said Clark. “I played softball.” After a few more questions, Julie learned that Summer played softball at the division one level and that over the course of her college career, she lost the love for the game.

Later that night Julie told Shelly about the chance encounter. Coach Hoerner mulled over the name and recalled emailing Summer a couple years back when Clark was in the portal and Hoerner was coaching at Appalachian State. She then spent the evening watching video of Summer.

The next trip to Mighty Taco was made by Coach Shelly who immediately spotted Clark working in the back. “Would you ever be interested in playing softball again?” asks Hoerner.

“I don’t know, not really,” responded Clark.

Hoerner shared some background on D’Youville and the team, gathered her order and left. The next time Hoerner stopped in, Clark was there again. “Any more thought to playing?”

“Well, I did look the school up, but you don’t have my major.”

This time Hoerner not only left with her order but also a glimmer of hope, thinking, “she’s intrigued”.

On Hoerner’s next stop, she left her number, and she also left Clark with this thought - everything happens for a reason.

Fast forward eight months and one of those reasons, helping D’Youville wins its first East Coast Conference Championship. The #4 ranked Saints defeated top seeded St. Thomas Aquinas twice on Saturday behind the pitching performances of Clark and Senior Sarah Parzych to clinch its first title since moving to Division II. They entered Saturday 0-5 this season vs St. Thomas Aquinas but just like Hoerner’s pursuit of Clark, the Saints were unfazed. “No one expected us to be there and even when we were warming up, we heard a lot of chatter, like from parents, from coaches, how we shouldn't even be there,” said Clark.

“And I think it just lit a fire under us, and it made us work even harder and just prove them wrong.”

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The work and belief began back in the fall.

“Coach Hoerner emphasized coming together as a family and we over me, I think that's been really beneficial for our team, instilling that team culture,” said Senior Second basemen Gianna Adamo.

“They see us as humans, not just as players.” said Senior Pitcher Sarah Parzych who was named the tournament’s “Most Outstanding Player. “We had a coach come in this year, Coach Hoerner, and we're not her recruits. She doesn’t really know what she's walking into, and the second she stepped foot here, she embraced every single one of us with open arms, and she was there for us, she supported us and lifted us up just as individuals and as softball players.”

That belief was tested in the final game of the regular season. The Saints were down by two runs with just three outs left, facing the possibility of missing the conference tournament. A four-run rally in the seventh inning secured the win and a place in the postseason. The seniors on the team have faced many challenges throughout their careers, so seeing the season end with a conference title is all the more rewarding.

“There's a good group of seniors that have been here for four years doing that transition from Division III to Division II and being eligible in our second year to take home the trophy has been really exciting.” said Parzych. “We've had that “we over me” mentality that whole year, and I think just leaning on our teammates and enjoying each other and embracing each other has made it even that much more special.”

Nine players on the Saints roster began their softball careers in Western New York including Parzych (Williamsville North), Clark (Williamsville East), and Adamo (Starpoint).

And the group is led by Hoerner. It will come as no surprise to learn she also grew up in Buffalo, and she was an All-MAAC Player at Canisius College. Following her playing career, she was inducted into the New York State Softball Hall of Fame and the Western New York Hall of Fame. “You know, coming back to Buffalo really means a lot. I've been away from here for so long, and to be able to come back home and coach where I grew up, where I played in front of some hometown people…it's really incredible. I have so much support here to be able to come back and give Western New York and D’Youville a special opportunity.”

Hoerner’s coaching career spans 30 years with experience at the Division I level. But in her first year with the Saints, she already recognizes that the university is a unique place.

“What I think is really cool about D’Youville is that the academics is so rigorous that, especially with those nursing majors, the players were in clinicals all day long, and they would come and hit or pitch at 8 p.m. at night after being in clinical since 6:30 in the morning. You can't do that at most schools. You can either play or you can do nursing. I mean, for them to be able to do that and excel at both shows what kind of character they have, and what kind of excellence they have and drive for themselves on the field and off the field. That has been an eye-opening thing for me.”

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Next up for the Saints is a showdown against top-ranked Pace University in the East Regionals. As with every challenge they've faced this year, Hoerner has the team prepared for the battle ahead. “We're playing with house money right now. We've got to focus on our strengths more than anything and just be prepared. We've got to keep the moment, not bigger than what it is”

And as for Clark’s decision to return to the diamond? Said the Healthcare Studies major, “Coach Hoerner promised, we were going to have a lot of fun. And that's what we've been doing all year, having a lot of fun, and I'm really happy that I came back and played again.”

Regardless of what happens in the NCAA Tournament, it sounds like a mighty promising future on the diamonds for Clark and the rest of the Saints under Hoerner’s capable leadership. Just ask your sister-in-law.