Leesburg, Va. — Heritage High School sophomore Abby Schaub has made an early verbal commitment to continue her softball career at George Washington University beginning in the 2020-2021 academic year.
“I chose George Washington University because I loved the idea of being able to get an amazing education while also getting to play Division I softball at a high level,” the 5-foot-9 Schaub said.
Schaub noted academics were just one of the many reasons she decided to continue her life in Washington, D.C.
“At the moment, I am planning to major in Psychology or Political Science because of the opportunities GWU will be able to provide for me,” Schaub said.
Located in the nation’s capital, GWU is home to approximately 10,740 undergraduate students. In College Factual’s 2017 National Student-Athlete Rankings report, GWU is in the top 50 percent of DI schools in the nation for combining a quality education with a remarkable women’s softball team.
Schaub is grateful for the opportunity to get to improve and play the game she loves at the next level, while attending college in a location she loves.
In the spring of 2021, Schaub will get to suit up for the Division I Colonials, who closed out the 2017 season with a program record 28 victories under the direction of first year coach, James DeFeo. DeFeo rewrote the record book both with individual and team milestones in 2017. The squad batted a program-best .302 in 2017 – the first time in GW history that a team has averaged over .300 for a season. The team also set program records for runs scored, hits, doubles, RBIs, slugging percentage and fielding percentage.
The Pride sophomore hopes to be a big asset to the softball program at GWU, where she will look to add power at the plate as well as leadership qualities behind it.
“I am very self-motivated and have pushed myself to work my hardest every day,” said Schaub, who will catch for the Colonials. “Getting to play at such a high level has also motivated me to get better.”
Schaub – who adds versatility at the corners – began her softball journey on the other side of the fence watching her older brother play baseball.
“Since I was little, I had always been around a baseball field watching my older brother play,” Schaub said. “I told my mom when I was five-years-old that I wanted to play softball.”
Fast forward ten years and Schaub was named to the All-Conference 21B softball first team as a freshman at Heritage. She has high hopes for the Pride for the upcoming 2018 spring season.
“Heritage is a young team, but I want us to continue to compete and play at the highest level possible,” Schaub said.
Last summer the catcher traveled across the country with the Vienna Stars National club softball team and placed third in the Premier Girls Fastpitch National tournament in Huntington Beach, California. Schaub was also invited to play in the Colorado Sparkler Junior All Star Showcase game and had the opportunity to play with talented players from across the country.
“My favorite part about softball is the fast pace of the game and the opportunity to play with other amazing athletes,” Schaub said.
She credits her former coach, Nichole Andrade, for making her the player she is today and her parents, Lisa and Greg Schaub, for helping her reach her goals.
“Coach Andrade’s passion for the game inspired me to be the best I can be,” the catcher said. “My parents have helped me get where I am today. Their constant sacrifices for me to play the sport I love is unbelievable.”
While the future Colonial acknowledged that the true hard work really starts now, she is more than ready and up for the challenge.
“My intense love for the game and the desire to continue to improve are what always has kept me motivated.”
