Burrell grad Alaina York makes most of abbreviated 1st season

Alaina York began a summer job Monday as a nursing assistant at UPMC Presbyterian.

The next couple of months will build on her experiences studying nursing at Robert Morris.

While she makes strides towards her career field, the Burrell graduate also is focused on her opportunities for the Robert Morris softball team.

That begins, she hopes, with fall practices and exhibition competition after an offseason of hitting and throwing drills, daily running and weight training.

Despite all of the uncertainty colleges and universities face in the coronavirus pandemic, the Colonials plan to resume team activities in early September.

“We didn’t do as much as we wanted with the spring season being cut short, and that gave all of us a lot of motivation to come back strong in the fall,” said York, who transferred to RMU after two years at Division II Wheeling, where she was a two-time Mountain East Conference all-star.

“It’s been so important to keep physically and mentally focused throughout the spring and summer to be ready to get back on the field. All of us (on the team) have been really good at holding each other accountable. We have a really good group that should bring a lot to the table. We have goals set, and we know what it will take to reach them. We just have to put in the work.”

After her sophomore year at Wheeling, York decided to continue her academic pursuits at a different college. She also entered the transfer portal for softball.

While realizing some schools would have her go an extra couple of semesters, she found Robert Morris to be the right fit. The move also allowed her to realize the dream of playing Division I softball.

“Athletics was such a bonus,” York said. “I really couldn’t ask for anything else from a school.”

Last fall, she was able to practice with the team but was not permitted to play in any exhibition games against schools such as Pitt, Seton Hill and Cal (Pa.) because the transfer of her credits didn’t give her immediate eligibility.

“I was just kind of adjusting to our own pitchers and the team in workouts,” York said. “It was definitely a challenge heading into the start of the season, but the coaches and players really supported me. That was a good feeling.”

Colonials coach Jexx Varner said York made an immediate impact with her teammates.

“Alaina has been such a vital part of what we are doing within the culture of the program,” he said. “She adapted her abilities and her strong work ethic right away.”

York, an outfielder, played in 16 of the Colonials’ 19 games (8-11 overall) in the shortened 2020 season and made 12 starts.

She collected a hit in six of her first seven games, batted .333 and tallied two triples, five RBIs and six runs scored before cooling off over the final stretch.

“I knew all together there might be some ups and downs, but I was happy to be able to play just because of all the uncertainty with the schools and not knowing where I was going to go and if I was going to be able to play somewhere,” York said.

“Going into this new thing at Robert Morris, I told myself, ‘Hey, you always wanted to play Division I softball, and this is a great opportunity.’ I went into it hoping to make the best of it. I grew so much in whatever role I had.”

Defensively, York was flawless: She recorded 14 putouts and didn’t commit an error.

“I think that through it all, she was learning a lot and working to be better,” Varner said. “She understood it was, and still is, a process. With that, she came out and played incredibly hard for us, starting from Game 1. She was ready to go.”

Along with thousands of other collegiate athletes who had their spring seasons halted, York will be able to recoup the season and have two years of eligibility remaining.

“The experience has been amazing so far, and I can’t wait to see what the next couple of seasons hold for me and the whole team,” York said.

The RMU athletic department announced June 15 it is leaving the Northeast Conference. The softball team will begin play next spring in the Horizon League against such opponents as Youngstown State, Cleveland State and Wright State (Dayton, Ohio).

“Alaina will always be one of the hardest workers and always committed to get better,” Varner said. “Her skillset and ability are 100 percent there to make an impact and help us reach all of our goals. I know she’s excited to keep working for the fall and is ready to step up into an even bigger leadership role.”