Jonathan Alder’s Danielle Robbins slides safely into second base. Robbins will continue her softball career at Ashland University. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Jonathan Alder High School senior Danielle Robbins has experienced mostly highs, but a couple of lows during her three full seasons as a member of the Lady Pioneer softball squad.
She was a starter on the 2019 team that captured the Division II state championship.
Her sophomore campaign was squashed when the coronavirus pandemic canceled all high school spring sports in Ohio.
As a junior last spring, she was disappointed with her teammates when the season ended early in the post-season.
After that game, members of the team vowed they would return to Akron in the spring of 2022 to compete for and win another state crown.
Whether that happens remains to be seen as there are so many things that factor into a championship season.
What is for certain is that Robbins will continue her diamond career beyond high school.
The JA outfielder recently said she planned to continue her playing days at Ashland University.
“I chose Ashland University for several reasons,” said Robbins. “A few are it has a nice campus, isn’t too big, is a good distance from home, has a great atmosphere and the softball coaches are great.
“I really wanted to play for a competitive D-II school that has coaches who love their school and I think I found just that,” she said. “Ashland just feels like home to me and I couldn’t be any happier with my choice. Every time something related to Ashland comes up, the school just gets better.”
Robbins, who hit a JA-leading .458, topped the squad with 38 hits during the 2021 campaign.
She drove in nine runs and led the team with 21 stolen bases.
She had looked at other schools before deciding on Ashland.
“I considered mostly other Division II schools, one Division I school, and a few NAIA schools,” she said. “I considered the University of Findlay, Ohio Dominican, Hillsdale College, Indiana Wesleyan, Taylor University and the University of Toledo.”
Robbins feels she will fit in well with the Ashland program.
“I think the personal attributes that will help me at the next level are my competitiveness, my willingness to learn, my determination and my perseverance,” she said. “I’d say I am a very hard worker and I don’t give up easily. I can also get along with most people and love being a part of a team.
“All of these skills will definitely help me at the next level.”
Although playing for the Lady Pioneers has held plenty of success, this next phase of her life will continue her dream.
“I’ve always wanted to play softball in college,” she said. “When I was 12 years old I wrote on a dream wall that my dream was to get a softball scholarship and play in college. Everything I’ve done has helped to make me a better player and person so I could reach this goal.
“I’m expecting to have to continue to work really hard to compete with the girls on the team and to try and earn a spot,” said Robbins. “It will be hard at first, but I think that I will get the hang of it.
“I’m sure we will all build each other up as a team and have lots of support from the head coach Emlyn Knerem. I expect to have lots of fun and enjoy being in college and playing for Ashland.”
Robbins will major in early childhood education.
“My goal for the future is to play on the team all four of my years at Ashland, earn my degree in education and land a teaching job my first year out of college,” she said. “I’d love to come back and be a teacher and softball coach at Jonathan Alder once I graduate.”