Merced High softball star makes her college choice official. ‘I’m super ready’
Aleatha Buchner’s smile never left her face.
The Merced High School senior experienced one of those moments you never forget.
Buchner was joined by family, friends, coaches and teammates as the Bears senior signed her National Letter of Intent during a lunchtime ceremony in the Merced High School gym on Wednesday.
She will receive a scholarship to play softball at Menlo College
“Today was extremely significant for me,” Buchner said. “My sophomore year, I saw a bunch of girls on my team get signed and that really motivated me because I saw how passionate they were.”
Buchner remembers former teammates Ava Brown and Ellie Alvarez celebrating their signing days.
“I saw everyone gather around for them and the support they had, and I wanted that for myself,” she said. “I saw how happy they were.”
Buchner went to work, playing travel ball, working out on her own and improving her craft.
It helped that her father Todd Buchner is the Merced baseball coach.
“It was huge, three times a week I could get soft toss, batting drills, I had access to a hitting cage,” Aleatha Buchner said. “He has so much baseball knowledge if I needed help.”
Aleatha Buchner excelled in softball while also playing water polo and flag football. She was an all-Central California Conference first-team selection as an outfielder last year after hitting .538 and leading the team with 17 runs scored.
“(Menlo College) is getting a top athlete who is willing to put her body on the line ever day,” Merced softball coach Jennifer Moreno said. “She sacrifices herself and she eats, lives and breathes softball. They’re going to get a player who will do whatever she can to be successful.”
Buchner said she fell in love with Menlo College after attending a softball camp on campus earlier this fall. She made her college choice official when she verbally committed on Nov. 13.
“It’s two hours away and the campus is so nice,” she said. “The people there just feel like family and so does the campus.”
Buchner plans to major in psychology with the hopes of becoming a special education teacher. She’s compiled a 4.10 grade-point average. Buchner also is expected to receive financial aid for her athletics and academics at Menlo College.
She was touched to have so many people share her moment Wednesday
“It meant a lot to me,” Buchner said. “I knew I had a lot of supporters but I didn’t know how passionately they supported me.”
She says she’s ready for the challenge of college.
“I’m super ready,” Buchner said. “I’m nervous, but I’m also super excited. It’s good to be nervous. I’m excited to get work done.”
