Burbank, IL (September 9, 2013) - The Reavis athletic department is pleased to announce that Ally Balandis has signed her letter of intent to play softball next year at University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois.
USF head coach Amanda Jensen travelled to Burbank Monday morning to ink the deal with the senior infielder/pitcher. "Ally definitely is a five-tool player," said Coach Jensen, who is in her second year at the helm of the St. Francis softball program. "She has a strong arm, can run, hit for average and power, and is a great fielder. The sky is the limit with Ally."
Jim Meskill, Ally's softball coach at Reavis, expressed how proud he was of the senior. "Ally really deserves this scholarship. She has great work ethic and has pushed herself to become a great player more than anyone I have ever coached. I know she will succeed at the college level because of that work ethic."
Ally will join her older sister Caitlyn, who is currently on scholarship with the Saints as a junior pitcher. The girls' mom, Alice, is especially excited about her daughters playing together at the collegiate level. "I feel blessed to have them playing on the same team again. My kids have sacrificed so much to get to this level that it astonishes me every time I think about it." Coach Jensen thinks having sisters on the same team will be a benefit to her program as well. She said, "we had two sets of sisters on the team last year and they always seem to push each other to get better."
Ally's decision to sign at USF had much to do with her comfort level of the school. "I love the small-school feel of St. Francis and I learn more in a one-on-one setting," she said. "Also, from visiting my sister these past two years, I know the softball girls are a close-knit group. I'm so excited about starting this next chapter of my life." Ally plans on majoring in Criminal Justice and minoring in Spanish next year.