She plays softball for Seneca Valley during the spring. But Hayley Crosby earned a scholarship during the summer.

The Raiders' senior second baseman has accepted a scholarship to continue her academic and softball careers at the University of Vermont.

"Almost all of our players play in organized summer leagues or on travel teams," Seneca Valley coach George Trew said. "The more you play, the better you get.

"We may only get in 20 games during the spring. Some of these girls play 100 games during the summer."

Crosby started every game at second base for the Raiders and batted seventh in the lineup.

She played for the under-18 Pittsburgh Patriots travel team the past two years, hitting .328 for the squad this summer.

The Patriots compiled a 52-11-3 record, won the ASA national qualifier in York, Pa., and finished 17th out of 116 teams at the national tournament in California.

"I've been playing fast-pitch softball since I was 12," Crosby said. "I'm originally from upstate New York, so I was familiar with Vermont and the university."

Once a Vermont coach saw her play in a tournament and became interested, that interest became mutual.

"It's where I wanted to go," Crosby said. "I was hoping it'd work out."

Crosby's next choices would have been Delaware, Virginia Tech or James Madison - but none of those schools had the nuclear medicine program she wanted to enter.

Vermont has such a program, but accepts only eight applicants each year.

"They get about 20 applications every year," Crosby said. "When I found out I was accepted, I was set."

Vermont is a Division I softball program that finished just 9-34 last season, 6-13 in the America East Conference. Pam Childs is 267-388-1 in 18 years as head coach there.

The Catamounts have 12 letterwinners returning next season.

"I've got a chance to start at second base or shortstop right away," Crosby said. "With this year's recruiting class and the freshmen who were there last year, the program is going to turn around."

Despite the fact Crosby hit just seventh in his high school lineup, Trew is not surprised she landed a Division I opportunity.

"She's a very good fielder at second base and a dependable player," he said. "And we have a lot of good hitters, so there's nothing wrong with hitting seventh on this team.

"Play summer traveling ball and you get seen. In softball, that's when you get recruited."

All three seniors on the Patriots last summer received college scholarships. North Allegheny graduate Amanda Howard and Hampton graduate Hannah Schultz are at Washington & Jefferson while Montour graduate Brenna Reed is at Robert Morris University.

Besides maintaining a steady .300 batting average over the years, Crosby's fielding average was .960 with the Patriots last summer.

She also drew a lot of walks and led the team in getting hit by pitches.

"I'm not afraid to take one for the team," she said.

Crosby is among at least eight Seneca Valley softball players to earn college scholarships in the past four years.

"Hayley's a steady player who works hard at the game," Trew said. "She deserves it."