Wildwood Crest Native Allie Weiser Excels at Albany

Allie Weiser has made the transition from small high school competition to Division I athlete.
The Wildwood Crest resident left Wildwood Catholic two years ago for the unknown rigors of a softball scholarship in the competitive America East Conference and the snowy, cold climate surrounding the University of Albany.
“In my freshman year it really didn’t snow that much,” said the daughter of Randy and Kay Weiser. “Then last season it seemed to snow three feet every week.”
The Great Danes spend a lot of time in their campus indoor practice facility, but they also escape the chilly temperatures with competition in warm weather venues such as Florida and California.
“It was a big transition coming here,” said Weiser, who spends her summers waitressing in her hometown. She also travels to Tabernacle for individualized pitching instruction and follows a specially designed Albany softball workout routine. “You get used to the weather pretty quickly and practicing inside isn’t so bad.”
Once she completes the fall softball season, Weiser and her teammates gear up for another season as soon as the Christmas decorations come down. She’s rarely able to make the nearly five-hour trek home so she spends most holidays with her fellow athletes. More than 50 games later, another summer arrives and she’s able to spend quality time with family and local friends.
Weiser appeared in 21 of 51 games in 2011 while registering a 5-6 mark in a dozen starts. She tossed nearly 80 innings and secured an impressive 2.9 earned run average, down about half a run per game from her rookie year. She whiffed 45 hitters. The psychology major shared the Great Dane pitching load with two other hurlers and the trio helped Albany garner a 28-23 overall mark with a 14-4 America East record.
“We relieve each other and we get along great,” said Weiser. “I’ve learned much more about the entire game of softball since I’ve been here. I’ve learned more about moving the ball around and I’ve picked up some speed.”
Weiser estimates that she throws in the 63 to 65 mile-per-hour range. She also uses the speed in her legs to pinch run when called upon.
Albany’s conference title propelled the Great Danes to the NCAA Regionals. Looking ahead to her upperclassman years, Weiser hopes to take her squad to another conference crown and continue to advance her game. She also hopes to maintain her dean’s list status.
“The athletes get to register early to accommodate game and practice schedules,” said Weiser. “I miss Friday and Monday classes during the season and have to make up all of that work with the professor.”
Weiser said the athletes at a Division I school like Albany spend a lot of time together due to their rigorous academic and athletic requirements.
“We all know each other, we even sort of dress alike,” she said. “Everyone is very friendly and we spend a lot of holidays together.”
As for her transition from the tiny, close-knit Crusader community, Weiser said she finds the large college experience to be “more exciting” and “very cool.”
Like all Division I programs, Albany puts in a lot of miles. Bus rides can top 10 to 12 hours. The closest the Great Danes come to Cape May County is the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Nevertheless, her parents rarely miss a game. Her father even traveled to California to see her play.
Weiser acknowledges that combining university athletics and academics “is a lot harder” than high school. She offers simple advice to local high school athletes making a similar transition.
“You have to keep up with the practices and the schedule,” she said. “Don’t get overwhelmed with everything. Make sure to still focus on school work. You’ve got to stay focused.”