YATESVILLE – Pittston Area senior softball pitcher/first baseman Nina Cencetti expects to continue playing both positions in college after accepting partial academic and athletic scholarship offers to attend the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.

Cencetti plans to study physical therapy at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II school. She also had made recruiting visits to DeSales and Misericordia before selecting the University of the Sciences.

“I liked the coach,” Cencetti said. “I love Philly. That’s where I wanted to go the most.

“It’s the best of both worlds because it has my major and I get to play softball.”

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Cencetti has been one of the key performers on District 2 silver medalist teams the past two seasons.

The four-year starter batted better than .300 each of her first three seasons while posting .500 or better winning percentages as a pitcher.

After a 1-for-11 start at the plate this season, Cencetti is batting .314 in 63 career games with 25 runs and 26 RBI.

As a pitcher, Cencetti is 13-9 with a 3.88 ERA in 35 games, including 23 starts. She has 90 strikeouts in 130 innings.

Cencetti has been Pittston Area’s starting pitcher in all four games through Thursday’s win over Hazleton Area, going 2-0 with a 2.33 ERA. She has allowed 14 hits and three walks while striking out seven in 15 innings.

The University of the Sciences is 8-20 this season after going 5-33 a year ago.

Pittston Area pitcher/first baseman Nina Cencetti announced her commitment to accept academic and athletic scholarships to play softball while attending the University of the Sciences, an NCAA Division II school in Philadelphia. From left, seated, are Anthony Cencetti, brother; Melissa Cencetti, mother; Nina Cencetti; Joe Cencetti, father; Joe Cencetti, brother. Standing, Pittston Area principal John Haas, Dennis Smeding, owner/instructor at Maximum Impact Sports Training; Vito Quaglia, Pittston Area head coach; athletic director Charlie Turco.
https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_Cencetti.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston Area pitcher/first baseman Nina Cencetti announced her commitment to accept academic and athletic scholarships to play softball while attending the University of the Sciences, an NCAA Division II school in Philadelphia. From left, seated, are Anthony Cencetti, brother; Melissa Cencetti, mother; Nina Cencetti; Joe Cencetti, father; Joe Cencetti, brother. Standing, Pittston Area principal John Haas, Dennis Smeding, owner/instructor at Maximum Impact Sports Training; Vito Quaglia, Pittston Area head coach; athletic director Charlie Turco. Tom Robinson | For Sunday Dispatch

By Tom Robinson

For Sunday Dispatch

Reach the Sunday Dispatch newsroom at 570-655-1418 or by email at sd@psdispatch.com.