Northwestern Lehigh recently held a signing ceremony for student-athletes who will be attending Division 1 schools after graduation.

For Abby Dunstan, playing Division 1 softball is something she has wanted to do since she first understood the differences in divisions.

The Northwestern senior is used to playing softball outside of the Colonial League area and spent this past summer playing for the Virginia Stars, who play an ambitious elite travel team schedule that takes them to different parts of the country.

Before long, most of the softball fields that Dunstan will play on will be outside of Pennsylvania thanks to reaching her dream of playing softball at Division 1 Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

The Tigers catcher had several opportunities from D-1 schools, but ultimately decided to become a member of the Ramblin’ Wreck because even though she has spent her years in the metropolis of New Tripoli, Atlanta still felt very familiar.

“The education I am going to get played a huge role. When I went down for my visit, I heard recruits say that it feels like home, and I really didn’t know what that meant, but it truly did. I felt like it was going to be my home away from home,” said Dunstan of her first visit to Georgia Tech.

“It’s a place where I know I am going to be pushed, but I really think I am going to thrive there. I didn’t think I was a city girl, but when I went down there [to Atlanta], I really can see myself going there for four years.”

While there has been lots of help along the way, Dunstan has also pushed herself both academically and athletically to meet the standards of Division 1 schools that she dreamed about. On the field, Dunstan has worked to become one of the best all-around players in the area, and has found herself on all-state teams, and was also the Times News Player of the Year last season.

In her junior year, Dunstan hit .516, posted a .573 on-base percentage, and a 1.021 slugging percentage. Of her 49 hits, 23 went for extra bases, and nearly half of those – 11 – were home runs.

Defensively, not many runners take chances against her, nor do they look for pitches to get past her, because very few do.

Her high school career has been pushed along by her teammate, battery mate, and friend Emma Freeman, who just happens to be one of the best pitchers in local softball. The two make quite a pair on and off the field.

“Being best friends with somebody, and then being able to play with them for as many years as we have is something that I am blessed with,” said Dunstan with her best friend Freeman sitting in the front row at the signing ceremony. “Being able to tell people that you played with the same girl since seventh grade or whenever it was and you’ve become best friends, is something that not many girls are able to say.”

For the past three seasons, Kate Farber has coached Dunstan and has been impressed not just with her athletic skills, but also with her leadership and communication skills with the other players.

“She’s able to lead the team without saying anything, but she also has a vocal piece and is not afraid to speak her mind. She’ll let everybody know when we need to pick it up and when we’re playing great,” said Farber.

“She steps in the batter’s box with total poise and confidence. A lot of that is contagious. She does a ton of stuff with our youth. We’re trying to build back up our youth program because there was a lull for a couple of years, but Abby and the other girls are doing a great job of sparking that interest again.”

Some student athletes who commit early feel their work is done. They focus on the future and what college sports will be like. Dunstan is in no position to do that since she and her senior teammates feel like there is work to be done on the Colonial League fields around the area.

For Dunstan and company, the merry-go-round is making one last trip past the golden ring, and they want to grab the gold. The seniors have won one Colonial League title and a District 11 championship, and over the past three seasons are 66-14, with appearances in the PIAA semifinals in each of those years.

For the seniors, their gold ring comes in the form of a gold medal hung around their necks as state champions.

“I think about it (her senior season) a lot, and it’s almost hard to talk about because it goes both ways,” said Dunstan. “The four years the seniors have been here, we’ve had an amazing career, but at the same time, we fall short just about every year. This year, it’s our last go around and our last chance to win. It’s going to take a lot of work, but we’re ready for it.”