Plum's Schofield shows her stuff at national softball event

For two months this spring, Alyssa Schofield put her softball talents on display and helped Plum to a co-section championship and a No. 2 seed in the WPIAL 5A playoffs.

The Mustangs junior then expanded her visibility in the sport over the Memorial Day weekend as one of a select group of players at the national Softball Breakthrough Series in Kansas City, Mo.

The amateur development camp, designed for high school players, featured hands-on instruction from some of the biggest names in softball, including Olympians Jennie Finch, Natasha Watley, Jenny Topping and Leah O’Brien-Amico.

“We got to work out with a lot of cool people, and they taught us a lot of things about the game,” Schofield said.

“I learned a lot about conditioning and did infield and outfield drills that helped with my positions. I had a lot of fun.”

Team USA members Aubree Munro, Haylie McCleney, Delaney Spaulding, Kelsey Stewart and Michelle Moultrie also were on hand as instructors.

More than 200 players applied for the camp, and only 60 were invited.

In addition to the instruction, the program focused on developing the players through seminars, mentorship gameplay, scout evaluations and video coverage.

The players, from 20 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, were split into four teams for a series of games.

“I think I did pretty well,” Schofield said.

The camp participants either had just completed their high school seasons or were in the middle of playoff runs.

“All of the girls put their all into every drill and the games,” Schofield said. “No one wanted to waste that opportunity.”

Camp participants visited the Negro Leagues Museum, took part in a career chat at Kauffman Stadium, the home of the Kansas City Royals and a were guests at a Royals game against the New York Yankees.

Schofield said she appreciated the chance to meet players like her from all over the country.

“I got pretty close with two girls from Hawaii and one girl from Rhode Island, and we still talk to each other. I talked to them (Wednesday),” she said.

Schofield got the ball rolling for the development camp through the encouragement of family friend John Wilson, a club softball coach based in Swissvale who also coaches in the Woodland Hills softball program.

“He thought it would be a good idea to send in a video to show them what I could do in hitting and fielding my main two positions and see if I would get picked,” Schofield said.

Two of Wilson’s players, Woodland Hills rising junior Simone Hanner and recent Sto-Rox graduate Malaya Davenport, also took part in the camp.

“This camp is good fortune for these girls,” Wilson said. “It gives them an advance on their future in softball. It’s always a great experience for anyone that is dedicated to their craft.”

Schofield finished her season at Plum with a .467 average (28 for 60), eight doubles, four home runs, 13 RBIs and 24 runs scored.

Plum went 15-4 overall and tied Hampton for the Section 2-5A title at 13-1. The Mustangs suffered a close 5-4 loss to West Allegheny in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.

“This team this year was a family, and we played so hard for each other,” Schofield said.

Schofield said she has received offers from Division III colleges, and she feels college interest will pick up over the summer as she plays with her Pittsburgh Predators 18U team.

“I want to play well and help my (Predators) team win games and tournaments,” Schofield said.