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The Trenton Softball Hall of Fame’s scholarship award winners are chosen for both their athletic and academic achievements. With those in mind, Hightstown High’s Olivia Pignatello was a slam dunk to be one of the winners at the hall’s annual banquet on May 18.
In terms of what she has been able to accomplish on athletic fields, Pignatello has received a scholarship to play Division I softball at Holy Cross in Massachusetts. In the last two years she received all-Colonial Valley Conference recognition, and this year she is off to another hot start with a .434 average.
A team leader and captain for the Rams, Pignatello is an excellent outfielder by trade, but can also be found in the infield because her high school team needs her there. She was selected to be a member of three Mercer County Carpenter Cup teams, and she been a productive player for the Mystics travel team in Medford for five years.
A lefty leadoff hitter with excellent speed, Pignatello compiled a .366 batting average in her first three years with the varsity softball team and entered this season with 71 career hits.
Softball was not her only sport at Hightstown High. Pignatello played varsity field hockey for four years and one season was named her school’s Offensive Player of the Year.
She has been equally impressive in the classroom. Her weighted GPA is 4.04 and she has been a regular member of her school’s honor roll. Pignatallo is also a member of the National Honors Society in her senior year.
The hall also recognizes the scholarship winners for community service. Once again, Pignatallo is well qualified as she has been a volunteer for organizations such as the Red Cross and has been an assistant coach for PAL basketball and the Robbinsville Little League.
At Holy Cross she plans on studying business and psychology.
The inductees in the Men’s Player Division are Mark Heltzman, Eddie Ervin, Kirk Hvasta and Tom Bliznawicz. Tim Gandy will join the hall in the Player/Manager division and the sponsor is Villa Mannino’s.
The Women’s Division inductees are Jackie Sasko and Carole Wilson.
This year the hall is $29,000 in scholarship money, and over the years it has given senior high school athletes over $350,000.
The softball players receiving scholarships are Robbinsville’s Ariana Tomlinson, Steinert’s Katie Simonka, Notre Dame’s Bianca Pesce and Madelena Creo, and Pignatello. The baseball scholarship winner is Andrew Maddalena of Hamilton.
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