Three seniors on the Seminole Ridge High School girls varsity softball team — Autumn Calcagno, Lindsay Ogden and Elena Rado — will be playing college softball next year.
While they remain clearly focused on their upcoming season as they attempt to win their school’s third-straight Class 6A, District 12 championship, these four-year players are also making plans for their academic and softball-playing futures. On Thursday, Feb. 23, each signed letters of intent with different colleges during a brief ceremony on the SRHS campus.
Calcagno plans to attend Warner University, located in Lake Wales, Florida. Warner is an NAIA program, which competes in the Sun Conference. She plans to study sport communication and will be a middle infielder for the Warner University Royals. Currently, she plays as an outfielder for Seminole Ridge, mainly in centerfield.
“While she plays in the middle infield for her travel team, we need Autumn in the outfield, where she has great speed and an incredible read on the ball,” Seminole Ridge head softball coach Candace Navarro said.
Calcagno is ready to juggle the academic and athletic demands of being a college athlete.
“Since I currently have many responsibilities in high school, one of which is doing the school yearbook, and I play travel softball, I’m looking forward to playing softball while going to college,” Calcagno said.
Ogden, who is the top pitcher for the Hawks, will be attending John Jay College of Criminal Justice, located in New York City. She plans to study forensic psychology. Ogden plans to pitch for John Jay Bloodhounds, which is an NCAA Division III program.
Ogden is thrilled about the prospect of attending college in the Big Apple.
“I am excited about going to school in New York City and having access to a number of intern opportunities in the city,” Ogden said.
Rado is headed to Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, Maryland, where she will study kinesiology. For the women’s softball team, she will be a utility infielder for the Chesapeake College Skipjacks.
Rado is both looking forward to attending college, but a little unsure about being so far from home.
“I’m really excited about attending college, but a little nervous about being so far from family and friends,” Rado said. “I’ll be all by myself.”
