The foundation for one of the greatest softball eras in New Jersey public school history is not just built on talent. It includes dedication, sacrifice, sheer competitiveness and the ability to be a good person.
That is what seniors Ellie Miller, Mia Pope and Bianca Walsh have brought to Steinert’s program over the past four years.
Along with a whole lotta victories.
As of May 26, the tri-captains were attempting to lead the Spartans to an unprecedented fourth straight NJSIAA Group III state championship. Steinert and Group I’s Cedar Grove have both won three straight, becoming the first public schools in state history to do so.
On May 20 the trio checked off the last box on their to-do list when they won the Colonial Valley Conference Tournament for their first county/conference title.
“It’s what we’ve been working for every single year,” Pope said after a 3-2 win over Allentown in the final. “This is a big accomplishment. Everyone wants to get here, we knew we could get here. We have such a great bond and this was a deserving win for us.”
Whether or not Steinert repeats as state champs makes no difference in these seniors’ legacy.
They are special.
Great players came before and after to help fuel the success. But only this trio has the opportunity to contribute to four state champions.
All will play in college, as Pope heads for Marist, Miller goes to Drexel and Walsh will attend The College of New Jersey.
They were honored for their softball and academic prowess as being the three softball scholarship winners at this year’s Trenton Softball Hall of Fame banquet.
“They came in as freshmen and laid down this incredible foundation and have built it into this incredible program that I couldn’t even imagine becoming a thing,” coach Jenn Melker said prior to the banquet.
And did she see their potential as freshman?
“Would it be arrogant to say yes?” Melker asked with a smile. “They’re incredible. You could see the spark in their eyes as freshmen that they were willing to give it everything they could; to grow and be coachable and build on what they already had set in their foundation.
“I’d have to put an asterisk next to my answer. Yes I saw it. I knew what they were capable of, but did I expect them to keep delivering every single time? No. It’s not something you can put on a kid’s shoulders and expect, but they rose to every occasion and still keep doing it.”
Entering a first-round state game with Pemberton, Steinert had gone 86-18 since the girls were freshmen and 18-0 in states.
Pope had career average of .490 with 49 stolen bases and 131 runs scored; and was third all-time in hits in the CVC. Walsh had a .433 mark with 46 doubles, four homers, 110 RBI and 109 runs.
After playing sporadically in ninth grade, Miller stood at .383 with 71 runs. She was a spot starter in the circle as a sophomore and junior and became No. 1 this year. In three seasons she compiled a 29-4 record with a 1.17 ERA and 285 strikeouts in 204 innings.
The fact they arrived at Klockner Road simultaneously was the Perfect Storm.
Getting to know one another
Walsh and Miller met at age 6 when they played T-ball in the Hamilton Girls Softball Association. The two played for Bianca’s dad, former Nottingham coach “Irish” Mike Walsh, in the HGSA travel program, and eventually moved to the Jersey Outlaws.
Both agreed that leaning on each other relieved some pressure as freshmen.
“Having Bianca by my side made the transition so much easier,” Miller said. “The trust and chemistry we’ve built over the years gave me confidence stepping into a new environment.
“Bianca’s always been someone I can rely on, both on and off the field. She pushes me to be better, supports everyone around her, and brings a competitive energy that makes the whole team stronger.”
Walsh agreed, saying that “I could not have been luckier to share the field with Ellie for my entire life. Coming into a program as successful as Steinert as a freshman was definitely intimidating, but knowing that I had at least one familiar face on the team meant the world to me.”
Pope started as a baseball player at Nottingham Little League and for the Sayen Park Giants until age 9. At one point she played both sports simultaneously until her Central Jersey A’s coach, Danae Pesce, convinced her to focus on softball.
She knew of her future teammates from playing travel ball against them, and they became friends in eighth grade while playing together in HGSA.
“Watching Mia play at a young age, I knew she was incredible,” Walsh said. “I couldn’t wait to have the opportunity to play together when the stakes were a little higher than those of the rec season.”
Although her relationship with Walsh and Miller was fairly new, it was solid enough to aid Pope entering Steinert, and the bond only grew stronger.
“Coming in together as freshman helped us immediately click,” she said. “We had something in common to relate to each other about. We were young leaders and we navigated our entire journey these past four years sticking by each other.”
Miller actually met Pope in sixth grade at Reynolds and they became friends before being teammates.
“From the start, I could tell how fun and easygoing she was to be around and also what an incredible athlete she is,” Miller said. “Whether it was basketball or softball, Mia always stood out because of how naturally talented and competitive she is.”
Bianca Walsh: the spark
A fixture at second base, Walsh is considered “our spark center” by Melker.
“She is your silent leader that every coach desires to have because the program runs well because she’s functioning in it,” the coach said. “When a spark is needed she somehow lights it and gets the team going and is always there to set some sort of tone without being the center of attention.”
Pope will go down as one of the greatest softball shortstops (and players) in CVC history; not only as a hitter but as a defensive whiz. So when she talks about the assets of having Walsh as a keystone partner, it means something.
“I owe a lot to Bianca, she’s not only a great teammate but an even better friend and I wouldn’t be where I am without her by my side,” Pope said. “Every practice and game we make each other better. We both have such a competitive nature that we get each other and we push each other to be better every day.
“Working with her throughout the years has built such a strong communication between us and we always trust each other with everything. Whether it’s communicating to each other about our at-bats, talking in the dugout and on the field we’re always feeding off of each other and trying to be better. Sometimes we don’t even have to say anything we can just read each other’s body language.”
Ellie Miller: Everything you need
Miller could have been the starting pitcher for most CVC teams during her first three seasons. But she reflects the entire program with her team-first dedication, and was happy to play outfield behind hurlers Isabella Bonacci and Katie Simonka.
“My main focus was always just helping the team in any way,” Miller said. “Pitching may be my primary position, but I genuinely love playing in the field too, so I was always happy to contribute wherever I was needed. We had a lot of talented players and I understood that everyone had a role in helping the team succeed.”
With Miller unleashed this season, she entered the states with a 16-3 record, 1.29 ERA and 172 strikeouts in 119 innings.
“Ellie is everything you need her to be, and more,” Melker said. “Whatever is required, Ellie is going to be the one to do it. She leads by such an example, not just on the field, but her off the field mentality. If you see a ball left off to the side, she’s gonna make sure it gets gotten. She’s not gonna tell a freshman to go get it.
“To step up as an incredible outfielder last year — even with the incredible talent she has as a pitcher — without a mumble or without a second guess to her coaching staff, is amazing. She did what was asked of her regardless of the other talent she has. That’s a hard toll to put on a kid.”
Despite getting tons of strikeouts, Miller knows a big part of her success is the defense behind her – especially up the middle.
“Having Mia and Bianca behind me gave me so much confidence every time I stepped into the circle,” Miller said. “We’ve played together for so long that there’s just a level of trust and understanding between us that’s hard to explain. We all bring something different to the team, but together we’ve always fed off each other’s energy and competitiveness.”
Mia Pope: One of a kind
Superlatives are running out. New words need to be invented to describe how great of an all-around player this kid is.
Melker could only use a run-on sentence to assess Pope
“Just the dynamic that she brings, the pressure that’s put on her day in and day out after every article and award, to not only be able to prove all of it right but step up to every battle she needs to and actually perform and excel at whatever it is that’s asked of her and the talent that she has is just incredible,” the coach said, before running out of breath.
It’s worth going to Steinert games just to watch Pope field the ball. She makes the easy plays routinely and makes the hard plays all look easy.
No one has had a better seat for the show than Walsh.
“Playing next to Mia Pope has definitely been a highlight of my career,” the second baseman said. “She truly is a one-of-a-kind player. Playing with someone as talented as her, has pushed me to become a better player. I feel like we’ve watched each other grow into the players we are now, and I couldn’t be more proud of everything she’s accomplished.
“We talk a lot at practice about the different ways we want to approach situations, and we usually are on the same page about everything. I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to be on the field with her and can’t wait to see everything she does in the future.”
Pope became Steinert’s all-time hits leader this season, breaking the record of current Hamilton-Nottingham head coach Gaby Bennett. As usual, Pope was classy about her achievement.
“I have always heard about Gaby Bennett, how incredible of an athlete she is and what an impact she left on Steinert sports,” Pope said. “I have so much respect for her and everything she has accomplished as an athlete. Breaking her record is such an honor because of the high standard she set for so long. It means a lot to be even mentioned with someone like her.”
For the love of softball
There are many reasons why the three will leave one of the greatest legacies in Steinert athletics history. One of the most important is dedication.
To be so good, sacrifices had to be made. Parties and hang-out times were missed, as were countless other social events.
But to them, the ends justified the means.
“I’ve had to sacrifice some things throughout high school to devote myself to softball,” Pope said. “One of the biggest sacrifices I made was stepping away from basketball my senior year so I could fully focus on training for softball, staying healthy, and making sure I was at my strongest for the season. It wasn’t an easy decision because I’ve always loved competing, but I knew it was the best choice for my future.
“Honestly, the sacrifices were worth it because softball has given me so many opportunities, relationships and memories. It’s also taught me discipline, commitment and really strong time management skills that I’ll carry with me beyond sports.”
As a coach’s daughter, Walsh has been raised on the idea of hard work.
“There have definitely been some tough decisions I’ve had to make regarding my time, but I know where my priorities are,” she said. “There is no place I’d rather be than on the field with my teammates that I care so much about, playing a sport that we all grew up loving.
“I’ve always known the work it takes to be successful in anything, and I’ve been more than willing to make that happen. For the sake of not only my career, but also for the team, I have no regrets about any time I missed out on things to work on my skills.”
Miller was blunt about it.
“I didn’t feel like I sacrificed anything,” she stated. “Softball was always my main sport and my routine was established from a very early age. I go to pitching and hitting lessons outside of team practices weekly and I weight train two to three times a week during the off season.
“Yes, I devote a lot of time to softball but I really love the game of softball. It’s always a balancing act but I still find time to hang with friends as well as volunteer in local organizations.”
Time to say goodbye
As their careers wind down, the close friends talk about how they will miss playing together and how anxious they are to watch each other succeed in college.
They are saying farewell, but they will never forget.
“Steinert softball was special before we got here,” Walsh said. “It will continue to be special after we leave. I am just glad I had a chance to be a part of it.”
Miller said that, “I knew Steinert had a rich history of success. With that comes attention, and I understood there would be pressure representing this program. It has definitely been very special to be a part of Steinert softball and I’ve learned so much from it.”
Pope claimed that “Bianca and Ellie have been one of the greatest gifts I gained from the Steinert softball program. It has meant so much winning three state titles with them and it is a true testament to our relationship that not only are we a family on the field but also off.”
No one, of course, will miss the three more than their coach.
“As they grew the way they did, it was fun to sit back and watch,” Melker said. “Every day me and coach (Michelle) Walsh sit and watch a game, we’ll look at each other and we’re not trying to get emotional, but it’s kind of hard watching them come in as 14 year olds and seeing what they’ve made of themselves, and having to say goodbye.
“You put all three together and it’s something that, I don’t think any coach can explain how beautiful it works and how incredible they all are. Even if it’s just been a small step of high school, it has been an honor to be part of their journey.”
