Softball diamond is girls’ best friend

Canfield’s Tricia Bettura and Bianca Biondillo have been sharing the same softball dugout since they were little girls. They were even teammates on Canfield’s 2008 state title team.

After being recruited by the same college, they decided to continue their softball sisterhood.

This spring, the duo helped Shepherd University (W.Va.) achieve the winningest season in the program’s history.

Bettura had the best pitching season in Shepherd history at 20-9 with 32 starts and was named pitcher of the week four times. She led the team with 12 doubles and finished with the third-highest team batting average at .317.

The sophomore was a member of the WVIAC all-tournament team and the 2010 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Associations NCAA Div. II Atlantic All-Regional team and kept her earned run average to 1.41.

She also recommended Biondillo to Shepherd coach Leslie Lopez.

Biondillo joined the Shepherd team last fall and started in all the team’s 52 games. She led the team in sacrifice bunts and flies and hammered her first collegiate home run. The freshman was the only team member with three triples and finished with a batting average of .293, the team’s fifth best.

She was recognized in the “Shepherd Picket,” the college newspaper, as one of 15 freshman student athletes for academic performance.

“Baseball gives you the opportunity to make an impact as a team,” Biondillo said. “When you each play your game it’s the best feeling in the world.”

Playing collegiate softball has been one of the best experiences for Biondillo and having a friend on campus has made the transition easier.

“It’s a totally different world,” Biondillo said. “Everyone is so disciplined, everyone knows what they are doing and what play needs to be made.”

The off-season hasn’t stopped the girls’ friendship; they are playing on the same summer league team.