Softball: Woodgrove Softball Star Adriana Erickson Commits to D1 James Madison

*Update (12/5/2015): Woodgrove High School senior Adriana Erickson — who initially verballed to the University of Louisville — has officially signed her National Letter of Intent to play softball at James Madison University.

(November 10, 2014) – Woodgrove High School junior Adriana “AD” Erickson has made an early verbal commitment to join veteran head coach Sandy Pearsall at the University of Louisville where she will continue her softball career beginning in the 2016-2017 academic year.

“You have no idea what a relief it is. I’m not as stressed out,” said the 5-foot-9 Erickson. “But that doesn’t mean I work any less hard. I’m very dedicated to what I do and that will never let up.”

Erickson proved her hard work and skill when she went 4-for-5 including two home runs and five RBI in the 2014 VHSL 4A state championship, a game the Wolverines set a single-game championship record by scoring 24 runs in their win over Fauquier.

In Woodgrove’s first four softball seasons since the school opened in 2010, head coach Joe Spicer has led the Wolverines to four state championship appearances including state titles in 2012 and 2014.

“I love being able to play for my school and being a winning team. We have a lot of great talent and a very good coach, and we are very disciplined,” said Erickson who was named to the VHSL 4A All-State softball first team in 2014. “It makes me love the sport even more being able to represent my school and being able to say that I’m a state champion.”

In the spring of 2017, Erickson will get to suit up for the Division I Cardinals who finished 36-22 including a 14-7 American Athletic Conference record in 2014.

Fifteenth-year Louisville head coach Sandy Pearsall led the Cardinals to an AAC title and an appearance in the NCAA Tuscon Regional before they lost to Boston University, 8-3, on May 17 in a regional elimination game.

All Louisville athletic teams underwent a conference change over the summer as the Cardinals now compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“There is not a day that goes by where I don’t practice. I’m a huge competitor and I hate losing,” said Erickson about what she will add to the Louisville team. “I will do whatever it takes for the team to be better. I work on hitting every day, and I will do my best and work on whatever needs to be fixed.”

Erickson – who will play first base for the Cardinals – noted her dad got her started in softball while her dad, mom, stepdad and stepmom support her in everything she does including motivating her to play the sport she loves.

“Words cannot describe how great I feel when I step in the box and have pressure on me to win the game in the last inning when we are down,” said Erickson who plays travel softball for Fielder’s Choice 18U Gold. “I just get a rush whenever I play, and I’m the happiest I can be.”

While Erickson acknowledged she is happiest when she is playing softball, she feels her time at Louisville could also bring a certain level of happiness.

“As I walked down the street of the university I knew that I could see myself here for college,” Erickson said. “It is a big sports school: not too big but not small. The coach is amazing, and I love her to death. Everyone there is so nice. It’s a home away from home.”

Owen Gotimer is a graduate of Heritage High School in Leesburg and is currently in his senior year at Syracuse University. Follow LoCoSports on Twitter (@LoCoSports) for up-to-date news and scores from around Loudoun County.