Hempfield junior chooses James Madison for softball

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, October 2, 2024 | 10:54 PM

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Hempfield junior softball pitcher Julia Varhola can bring it on the radar gun, reaching upwards of 65 mph on her fastest deliveries.

In two years, she plans to take that speed to the NCAA Division I level.

Varhola announced she has made a verbal commitment to James Madison of the Sun Belt Conference.

She had interest from more than a dozen D-I programs, but multiple trips to the school in Harrisonburg, Va., magnetized her to the Dukes.

“The atmosphere, how the players bond like a family and how the academic programs all aligned with what I was looking for,” Varhola said. “On Sept. 1, I had interest from around 19 Division I schools. Then I narrowed it down from there to my top schools. JMU was always at the top of my list since the first camp I went to.”

Varhola said the campus felt like a place where she could get comfortable.

“JMU has such a great atmosphere from their football games to just the campus itself,” she said. “The softball stadium is beautiful, and the facilities are great. I truly think that JMU can help me reach the dream and goals I have always wanted to achieve since I was little. I have always wanted to make a name for myself through softball, to play Division I, break records and then eventually go professional and travel the world playing.”

Varhola last season worked in tandem with ace Riley Miller, a Kent State commit.

She appeared in 12 games, with four starts, and had a 5-0 record and a 1.13 ERA. She struck out 61 and walked 16, allowing just six earned runs in 37 2/3 innings.

“Julia is a power pitcher. She throws very hard,” Hempfield coach Tina Madison said. “I will be excited to watch her grow these next two years left at Hempfield and continue to develop.”

Varhola said she looked up to former JMU All-Americans Jailyn Ford and Odicci Alexander, players she has met.

“They were both pitchers, like me. I always have wanted to accomplish things they both have,” Varhola said. “There’s no better place to do it than where it all happened for them. JMU has produced four All-Americans, and that is something I am striving to accomplish.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Hempfield