Rutgers-Newark Athletics

By Jim Hague

When a three-year starter loses a starting position in their final year of college athletic competition, it’s usually time for concern. Nothing disturbs a team’s chemistry and camaraderie more than a disgruntled team member.

Ashley Angeli is a senior on the Rutgers-Newark softball team. Coming into the 2011 season, Angeli started 112 of the last 113 games for the Scarlet Raiders, predominately holding fort all that time at third base, but Angeli also saw time at second, shortstop and the outfield, depending on where head coach Patty Clarke saw fit.

But when this season began, Angeli was a player without a starting position.

“It wasn’t easy, but I decided to take my role well,” Angeli said. “Whether I’m on the field, on base or in the dugout, I was going to be a leader. I’m still dedicated to the team no matter what. We have a bunch of freshmen on the team and I’m one of the oldest players. I have to lead the way. And the freshmen follow the seniors around like ducklings, so we better do the right thing as leaders, because they’ll do whatever we say.”

Clarke was happy with the way Angeli handled the situation.

“She’s brought a great sense of leadership to the team, like having another coach on the bench,” Clarke said. “A sense of maturity has evolved in Ashley. She knows her role and she’s been fantastic with it. It tells me that she’s going to be ready with the next step in her life. She’s willing to see a legacy being created here. This team has evolved and she’s still a part of it.

Added Clarke, “Ashley has afforded me such a piece of mind with her loyalty to the program. I never had to worry about anything. We have 12 freshmen on the team and Ashley has done a great job in mentoring them. She’s letting them know what we’re trying to accomplish here. She’s just been so supportive of the team.”

Angeli has also handled the utility role this season, posting a .400 batting average in limited at-bats.

“We’ve used her sporadically this season off the bench and she’s come through,” Clarke said. “She’s really been a tremendous asset to the program.”

Angeli was also a fixture at the R-N men’s and women’s basketball games this winter, helping to coordinate the concession stand, which raised funds to help the softball team make a trip to Arizona this season.

“That is another sign of her leadership,” Clarke said. “She’s just been fantastic.”

“I took a lot of pride in working the concession stand, especially with the freshmen,” Angeli said. “It gets them involved in something outside of the playing field. The freshmen needed to see the dedication necessary to raise the funds to go to Arizona. The trip turned out to be amazing.

Added Angeli, “My attitude as a leader definitely rubs off on the freshmen. I think they see the way I act and it helps them stick together as a team. I definitely have a sense of dedication.”

Angeli has that same kind of drive and desire with her classes as well. She has maintained a double major in history and women and gender studies, with a minor in LGBT studies, a new program at R-N dealing with lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender issues.

Angeli is openly gay and is proud to be part of such a historic program that is dealing with such emotionally tough issues in an open forum.

“I was one of the first members to sign up for the program,” said Angeli, a native of Teaneck. “A lot of people take gender studies, but this was definitely a good addition to the major. It gives me a great sense of pride of who I am and this is something that should have happened way before this year. We’re able to study this in the open.”

Angeli said that she plans on attending graduate school, more than likely at R-N, in order to pursue her goal to become a college professor, teaching either history or women and gender studies.

“I have a heavy academic schedule this semester, so it’s been hard juggling everything with softball,” Angeli said. “But I couldn’t stay away from softball. I can’t see myself anywhere else. I love this team. I see the growth that the team has made this year and it makes me wish I could play with them again next year.”

Maybe there’s a role as a graduate assistant coach waiting for Angeli.

“It wouldn’t be bad, but I would really look to get a position to pursue my career as a professor,” Angeli said.

Sounds like she has everything all planned out.

“Ashley has always had that fresh kind of personality that you like to have on a team,” Clarke said. “She’s never going to come down to anyone’s level. She’s always going to be herself. That’s a strength for her and it’s a positive for our program.”