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Leading the way: Robertson has been good leader for Williamsport

By Chris Masse 6 min read

Her college major and leadership go hand and hand. So, Williamsport first baseman Abby Robertson is using her senior high school softball season as an apprenticeship.

And the student has become quite a teacher.

Robertson has excelled as Williamsport's captain early this season. Headed to play at Lock Haven next spring, Robertson is the first player coach Chase Smith has selected as a solo captain in his eight years at Williamsport. There have been some excellent leaders during that time, so Robertson being the undisputed captain this year says a lot.

"Abby is the clear cut choice to be the one leader on the team who everyone can trust on and off the field," Smith said after Thursday's game against Danville was suspended in the top of the second inning. "She's different in the sense she understands it's not a single person playing this game. She understands there's nine people out there that need to contribute and how to get them to contribute."

Williamsport (0-1) has a small sample size, playing just once and not getting in a full game in nine days. Still, Robertson has been a calming influence for a young team which has five new full-time starters and which features all nine starters playing different positions than a year ago.

All the changes could bring uncertainty, but Robertson is a player who can bring all the moving parts and new players together. As well as she plays in the field, pitches in the circle at and hits at the plate, Robertson being that player all the others can look to may be her most valuable quality.

"I'm trying to embrace it. I want to go into sports management for my major when I go to Lock Haven, and that has a leader aspect to it for sure," Robertson said. "Having this opportunity and trying to get the girls to be the best they can be is part of my job that I'm going to have to know how do in the future."

If the present is an indicator, than Robertson's future looks bright. Even before becoming the captain, Robertson has been a positive influence on the field and in the dugout. A four-year starter, she has helped Williamsport reach three straight district finals, win district and league championships and excel at four different positions.

Robertson is a career .357 hitter and did not make an error until her junior season. She also provided pitching depth last season, going 4-2 with a 3.05 earned run average. Robertson was one of the area's best outfielders as a sophomore, shined at third base last season and now is playing well at first base.

The versatility is impressive but Robertson's approach stands out more.

"I always ask her, 'Where do you think you fit in best?' and she always says, 'Wherever you want me, Coach. Put me where you want me. It doesn't matter,'" Smith said. "She can play anywhere and she's happy to do it."

That mentality is one reason both coaches and teammates were happy to see Robertson claim some history in the season opener. Playing the first game at Williamsport's new turf field, Robertson slammed the first home run hit at Millionaire Mountain in her first at-bat this season.

Robertson hit the ball hard every time she batted that day and her home run was a no-doubter, coming on a 2-1 pitch. The reception she received when crossing home spoke volumes as her teammates seemed as excited as Robertson at achieving that milestone.

"That was pretty awesome," Robertson said. "I had my family here supporting me and my friends in the dugout. They all believed I could do it so I put my power into it and just did it."

Robertson's family has become synonymous with softball and success over the years. Her father Rick has coached elite youth and travel softball teams while older sisters Lynna and Amalie both flourished during their high school careers at Williamsport. Watching her dad's teams and her older sisters play over the years instilled a softball passion in Robertson and now the family tradition will carry on to Lock Haven.

Robertson committed earlier this year and now can put all her focus upon her final high school season.

"We're definitely a sports family. I'm so happy to take it to the next level, to show what I do at that collegiate level and I'm very excited to be going to Lock Haven," Robertson said. "I'm especially excited to have this season with this group of girls. They bring a lot of life to the field every time we play on it. It's good to be out there with my best friends."

It's good for those friends to have one of the area's premier players around as well. Robertson helps provide a strong foundation for Williamsport to build success upon as the season progresses.

Some of that goes to her talent and production. Just as much goes to the positive intangibles Robertson provides each day.

"She's really good at wherever we put her, but we can only use her in one spot at a time," Smith said. "Really, it's about trying to find out where most helpful to us. She's just very good at what she does."

The versatility Robertson provides should help at Lock Haven as well. She is not sure where she will play there yet, and Robertson does not care either.

Wherever it helps the team succeed is where Robertson wants to play.

"It's anywhere they want me," Robertson said. "If they put me somewhere, I'll go there."

Robertson already is taking some classes at Lock Haven and her future on and off the field looks promising. But there's more high school softball to be played; more players to help thrive.

"I think we bond really well," Robertson said. "The younger girls are learning what the older girls know and we're able to be teachers for them for the rest of the season and can try and help them for the rest of their high school years."

Robertson is happy about where she is going, but she and Williamsport also are thrilled with where she is right now.

"Sometimes I've seen players who have everything mapped out feel like they don't have to bust their butt and they feel like they can do whatever they want. Abby is the exact opposite of that," Smith said. "She's the kind of person who says this is what I want to do and I'm going to work for it."

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