The CT Softball Blog

MIDDLETOWN—For years, Julia Lane has watched her mother patrol the third base coaching box at Wesleyan University.

Beginning in the fall of 2027, the rising Mercy High School senior will be standing in the opposite dugout.

Lane, a three-time First Team All-Southern Connecticut Conference selection and one of Connecticut’s top returning hitters, has verbally committed to continue her academic and softball career at Middlebury College, choosing one of the nation’s premier NCAA Division III programs after a recruiting process that came together in just a matter of weeks.

“It definitely will be a little weird to kind of be on the opposite dugout from her in a different uniform,” Lane said. “But I think it’ll be fun.”

Lane’s mother, Jen, has spent years building Wesleyan into one of the NESCAC’s respected programs, creating the possibility that mother and daughter could one day meet as opponents.

The family is already looking forward to it.

“My family has already talked about doing a big tailgate as soon as we play Wesleyan,” Lane said. “They’re all really excited about it.”

While the future matchup makes for a great storyline, Lane said her decision was driven by finding the right academic and athletic fit.

“I knew I wanted a smaller, high academic liberal arts school in the Northeast,” she said. “I’m not 100 percent sure what I want to study yet, so I wanted somewhere I could explore different classes while also playing for a really competitive softball program.”

Ironically, Middlebury wasn’t originally on her radar.

Despite growing up around the NESCAC through her mother’s coaching career, Lane had focused on several other conference schools before Middlebury coach Kelly Bevere finally reached out earlier this summer.

Within three weeks, Bevere attended one of Lane’s games, invited her to campus, completed the admissions pre-read process and extended the offer that quickly turned into a commitment.

“It came together within a matter of two or three weeks,” Lane said.

Middlebury’s coaching staff viewed Lane’s versatility as one of her greatest strengths.

A natural first baseman who began her softball career as a pitcher, Lane has also played second base, third base and the outfield, giving the Panthers flexibility to keep one of their best hitters in the lineup.

“She really wanted me because of my hitting,” Lane said. “And she loved that I could kind of play anywhere.”

That versatility was something her mother emphasized throughout the early days of her playing career.

“She always told me it makes you more valuable if you can play multiple positions,” Lane said.

Mercy coach Kas Hoag believes Middlebury landed an ideal fit.

“I think Middlebury is an outstanding fit for Julia,” Hoag said. “It checks every box she was looking for… exceptional academic rigor, a highly competitive softball program and one of the most beautiful campuses in the NESCAC.”

Hoag also stressed that Lane earned the opportunity through her own work.

“She didn’t rely on her mom’s connections,” Hoag said. “She took ownership of the recruiting process, built relationships with college coaches herself and earned this opportunity on her own. That speaks volumes about her maturity, independence and work ethic.”

Lane’s résumé certainly backed up that effort.

She will serve as one of Mercy’s captains for the second straight season.

“Julia is the definition of a team-first athlete,” Hoag said. “Her versatility, poise and work ethic set a standard for everyone in our Mercy program.”

Before turning her attention to Middlebury, Lane still has one final chapter to write at Mercy.

“I’m just really hoping we have as competitive a season as we’ve had the last three years,” she said. “We’re a small group, but that’s one of our advantages because we’re all so close. I’m excited to see what this team can accomplish.”

And when that long-awaited Middlebury-Wesleyan game finally arrives?

Neither mother nor daughter seems too worried.

“We’ll come to it when it happens,” Lane said with a laugh. “But I think it’ll definitely be fun.”

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