JEFFERSON TWP — From playing in a national tournament to playing for a team that didn't win a game, that's been the collegiate softball transition for Knoch graduate Stephanie Fincher.

She doesn't mind — as long as she gets to play.

"I've got two years left to enjoy playing college softball," Fincher said. "I just want to have fun with it."

A pitcher-third baseman, Fincher has run the gamut between winning and losing before. Knoch's varsity was a combined 4-24 during her freshman and sophomore seasons.

The Knights had a winning record her junior year and won the section during her senior campaign before Fincher moved on to Mercyhurst North East Junior College.

A freakish knee injury robbed Fincher of her freshman season.

"It happened in March. ... We were still practicing in the gym because the weather was bad and I tore my ACL while delivering a pitch," Fincher said.

"I was looking forward to playing there because they've had a winning team for a long time."

She had surgery Aug. 1 and missed most of the following fall season as well.

"We didn't really get her back until mid-February," Mercyhurst coach Bryan Dewey said. "Her knee gradually improved as the season went on, but we had to run for her at times because her foot speed wasn't back yet."

Fincher wound up hitting .235 with a home run and five RBI this spring. She posted a 5-3 record with a 4.05 earned run average in 57 innings in the circle.

While her statistics didn't glow, her attitude did.

"Stephanie is simply a tremendous all-around team player," Dewey said. "She filled in where and when we needed her.

"That girl was a big part of what we accomplished. Sometimes, numbers can lie."

Mercyhurst North East tallied a 29-14 record and reached the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II World Series for the first time in school history.

Mercyhurst lost its two games in the 16-team tournament in Bloomington, Ill., including a 5-2 decision to eventual national champion Heartland (Ill.) Community College.

"It felt so good just being able to go out there and be part of that," Fincher said.

Now, Fincher is headed to Penn State-New Kensington, which brought back its women's softball program this spring after a two-year hiatus.

The Lions posted an 0-14 record in their return season.

"There were a few schools interested in Stephanie," Dewey said. "She wanted to stay close to home.

"Her knee is only going to get better. She's still less than a year removed from major surgery. I'm sure she has two good seasons left in her."

Fincher is just happy to be playing at all.

"I think back to those first two years in high school," she said. "Playing ball in college wasn't in my mind at all. We just wanted to win some games.

"Playing on a team like ours this year, seeing how we pulled together and made school history like that? It just makes me want to keep on going."