VANDENBURG AND WITCHLEY JOIN SAGE'S SOFTBALL COACHING STAFF

Albany, NY—The Sage Colleges' head softball coach Erica Li has selected Alana VanDenburg (Wynantskill, NY/Columbia) and Danielle Witchley (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) to join her as assistant coaches for the coming season.

Li noted of her new staff, "I'm thrilled to announce that Danielle will be joining the coaching staff for the 2019 season." Li added, "She comes to us with collegiate playing and coaching experience. Her energy and knowledge of the game will help bring this program to the next level."

"I am very excited that Alana will be with us as well for the coming season," noted Li. She added, "Alana has a wealth of collegiate playing experience at multiple division levels, while experience as a coach for a local travel team. She brings a lot to the table and will make an immediate impact for the Gator softball program."

Witchley is a former NEAC First-Team All-Conference performer for SUNY-Polytechnic in softball in 2015, while also earning NEAC Second Team acclaim in 2016 as a member of the women's basketball team. A four-year catcher for the Wildcats, she was a two-year team captain for the softball team. She played in 139 games during her career, while adding 31 doubles, 78 RBI's, 137 hits and had a .320 career batting average with her 48 career extra-base hits. She graduated in May of 2017 with a bachelor of science degree in sociology and criminal justice and was a Dean's List student-athlete. She also worked with the SUNY-Polytechnic softball team following her graduation.

VanDenburg, a former Sage softball player for the 2015 team, earned numerous awards over the course of her collegiate career. As a member of the 2015 Sage team, she was Skyline Conference All-Star Second Team outfielder. She went on to attend Louisburg College and earned acclaim as a 2016 First Team All-Region performer and was also saluted for her work in the classroom.  A 2018 graduate of Division I Hampton University, she was a two-year letterwinner and earned all-academic status as well as an all-tournament team selection in 2018. Her senior year, she worked as an intern with the Hampton University strength and conditioning coach, gaining valuable skills and techniques. Following her graduation, she served an assistant coach for the Capital District Fusion Team and is the current head coach for the team.