Troy Record- "Rachel Quackenbush fits right in since transfer to MCLA" by Laura Amato

Article courtesy of Troy Record

"Rachel Quackenbush fits right in since transfer to MCLA"
by Laura Amato

TROY — Rachel Quackenbush finally feels comfortable again when she's in the pitcher's circle.

The Hoosick Falls grad, and The Record's reigning softball player of the year, had signed her letter of intent to pitch for Siena at the Division I level almost a year before she actually made her way to the Loudonville campus as a freshman student-athlete.

But when Quackenbush joined the Saints on the diamond during her first semester something wasn't right. It wasn't the feel she was looking for. It wasn't the team she was looking for nor the experience she expected.

"Everyone kind of expected me to go D-I," Quackenbush, who finished her high school career ranked third on the all-time New York strikeout list, said. "But it was more like a job than actually playing."

So, after weeks of deliberation and discussions and reflection, Quackenbush made the decision to part ways with Siena and take her undeniable talent in the circle to the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, a smaller, Division II program in North Adams.

"I had to think about it because of the money and everything," Quackenbush said. "It was actually really tough because I was banned from playing because of the scholarship. So I appealed that decision against Siena's ruling and I won."

After securing an acceptance to MCLA and reaching out to Trailblazers' coach Mike Ameen, Quackenbush had the opportunity to again prove herself.

It only took a few pitches for the MCLA team to realize Quackanebush was the perfect addition in the squad's quest for success.

"I only had to see her throw one pitch," Ameen said. "She definitely has that reputation. When I heard the name, I knew her talent."

Although she only joined the team in the second semester of the school year, Quackenbush has had an obvious influence on the Trailblazers. The right-hander has been named the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference pitcher of the week twice and has a team-low ERA of 1.58 in 14 games.

In 80 innings pitched, Quackenbush has fanned 99 opposing batters, averaging a little more tgan eight K's per game while surrendering 55 total.

"It isn't so much her velocity, but her movement on the ball," Ameen said of Quackenbush's pitching approach. "That's what makes her so difficult to hit."

After the difficulties she went through at Siena, Quackebush was a little nervous about joining a brand-new team and the prospect of having to fit in with yet another group.

But with all the success she's found in the circle — including victories over rival Bridgeport State for the first time in MCLA's history — Quackenbush is confident that she's finally found a situation she can feel comfortable with.

More than that, she's found a team that feels like a team again, and playing softball is once again simply about having fun on the field.

"It's been so nice," she said of finding her footing again. "It was like a breath of fresh air and I get along really well with all the girls here."

As she prepares to make her local re-debut this week with a doubleheader at Skidmore this afternoon, Quackenbush is still anxious to continue to prove herself every time she steps into the circle. After going through so much to finally find where she feels comfortable, Quackenbush is happy exactly where she is.

"She's been very humble," Ameen said. "By her humility an dher ability, natural talent jut took over. Things look very nice for us."