Annie Reilly, a senior catcher for the Westfield softball team, announced her commitment to Russell Sage College via Instagram on Jan. 14.
Last season, Reilly was the starting catcher for the softball team and contributed in the lineup by batting .271 on the season. Pitcher for the softball team, Grace D’Angelo, who is one of Reilly’s lifelong teammates, said, “Annie is an animal on the field. She is steady behind the plate, acting as a reliable wall for pitchers. Russell Sage not only got a great teammate and player, but an even more amazing person.”
Her biggest achievements throughout her high school career include being a varsity level athlete in both softball and winter track and field, as well as playing a starting position in softball. “We won JV counties two years in a row my freshman and sophomore year season. I’ve been playing club softball for about 5 years, and I’ve had some of the best experiences with Central Jersey Fillies Fastpitch and Stars Fastpitch, like placing 4th in our division at nationals and winning multiple local tournaments,” said Reilly.
Reilly will be joining the Gators next fall. Russell Sage is a Division III program with two campuses, located in Albany and Troy, NY. They compete in the Empire 8 Conference. Last season, Russell Sage finished, 23-18.
Throughout her recruiting process, Reilly was interested in a variety of schools in different conferences, including Rosemont College, McDaniel College and Farmingdale State College. Ultimately, she leaned towards the Russell Sage. “I really liked the energy and environment created by the coach as well as the team. They had the programs I wanted, and the location was close to a lot of my immediate and extended family which was really important to me.”
Russell Sage College is a small private college that was founded in 1916. Russell Sage is a reputable and well-respected college; usnews.com ranked it 195th in their 2024 edition of Best Colleges and National Universities. Reilly intends to major in nursing with a possible minor in psychology.
Reilly looks forward to entering her senior season this spring with the goal of leading the team behind the plate.
