Shunk taking next step
CHERRY TWP — Have gloves, will travel.
Moniteau senior Dolcey Shunk will soon be traveling north, having signed a letter of intent to continue her academic and softball career at Pitt-Bradford.
But she has business to take care of at home first.
Moniteau finished 8-11 last season after posting won-loss records of 21-1 and 24-2 the previous two years.
“All of us are working harder to get back to where we were,” Shunk said. “We know what it feels like to lose now and we don't want to go back there.
“Our goal is to dominate the KSAC and win District 9. I believe we can do that.”
Shunk played second base and was designated hitter at times during her freshman and sophomore years with the Warriors. She moved to catcher last year and will be back behind the plate this spring.
“I've got three gloves,” she said, laughing. “One for catching, two for playing in the field.”
She's got a pretty good bat as well.
Shunk hit .431 her junior year, collecting 25 hits in 58 at bats. She had eight doubles, two triples, a homer and scored 30 runs. She had 16 RBI. She hit .383 as a sophomore.
“Dolcey is a great athlete. She's versatile defensively and in our lineup,” Moniteau coach Lennie Claypoole said. “She may be our leadoff hitter at times, when we count on her to do some running. She may hit third or fourth at other times, when we're looking for a double.
“That's why she'll succeed in college ball. There are so many things she can do, so many positions she can play. And her work ethic is second to none.”
Shunk said “you can always improve” as a hitter. In her spare time at home, she sets up a net in her family's garage and hits balls off a tee.
“I carry a tennis ball around with me and when I have extra time, I throw it off a wall and catch it,” she said. “It's sort of my own makeshift fielding practice.”
Shunk has been playing softball for five years. She started out playing in the A-C Valley district because that was the closest area to offer youth softball.
“I've played outfield, third base, shortstop, second and catcher at some point,” Shunk said. “I dabbled in pitching a little bit, but that wasn't my thing.
“Wherever Pitt-Bradford needs me, I'll play. I just want to be a good teammate and help them win.”
Shunk also considered Slippery Rock and Ohio Northern before deciding on Pitt-Bradford. The Panthers play in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference and have not had a winning season since finishing 23-13 in 2014.
Their coach, Tina Phillips, needs eight wins to amass 300 in her career at the school. She is in her 17th year at Pitt-Bradford.
“They have a softball complex up there that is absolutely beautiful. It's the nicest in the conference,” Claypoole said.
Pitt-Bradford is coming off a 14-18 season, 6-10 in AMCC play.
Shunk is ranked 10th in her graduating class with a 4.0 grade point average and plans to major in pre-pharmacy. After four years at Bradford, she will move on to Pitt's main campus to complete her studies.
“Coming from a small high school, I was attracted to the small, beautiful campus up there,” she said. “It will be a good transition from high school to college.
“Those girls work together very well. That's important to me. Your teammates become your family.”
