Groton’s Allen gets ready for D1 softball

Another standout softball player from Tompkins County is off to play softball in college, both at the Division I level and for an in-state school.

Elisa Allen will continue her illustrious softball career at Binghamton University, signing her National Letter of Intent in November. Allen is more than familiar with the school, frequently making the hour-long trip south to attend softball camp. But her decision to join the Bearcats program involved more than just a convenient location.

“As soon as I met the coaches and got to work with them, they all were very welcoming, as well as the whole team,” Allen said. “The atmosphere was just very nice to be around and be a part of, and I’m just excited. My visit was a few months ago, so I got to hang out with the team, and I’m just very excited to be a part of that team. They’re all like a family, and they’re very close.”

Allen will be another key piece in the Bearcats’ turnaround. This past season was the first time since 2016 that they finished with a winning record. The goal now is to win the America East Conference and make the NCAA Tournament—both last occurring in 2015—and Allen is more than up to the task.

“I’m gonna do all I can just to overall help with everything,” Allen said. “I’ve been working a lot on my hitting more, my leadership skills, and just knowing overall more of the game. I can help lead the team more because I get the main view of the field, so I just get more of that point of view to everyone.”

Allen gets that main view because she comes in as Groton’s starting catcher. She first started plying her trade behind the plate in sixth grade because it was the only spot available on her team, and she instantly fell in love with such a vital position in the sport.

“I loved being a part of every play, and my mind can just keep focused a lot more rather than sitting after each pitch and thinking about everything that could happen,” Allen said. “I like being a part of the constant motion of the game.”

Allen’s commanding presence behind the plate is equally matched by her sheer power in the batter’s box. While there are no official records kept, it is believed that Allen is Groton’s all-time leader in home runs, which included the first-ever dinger at the newly-renovated Ross Field. Her senior season was one to remember. She was named the IAC North Small Division MVP and was selected to the All-State Class C Second Team, becoming the first Groton player since Toni Darling in 1995 to be an all-state selection. She also guided the team to its first postseason appearance since 2019.

Although softball is clearly Allen’s main sport, she also excelled as a starter for the girls soccer and girls basketball teams, being named an IAC All-Star in the former as a goalkeeper. She could have realistically gone to college for any of those sports, but she shared why softball stood out from the rest.

“I just love the pace of the game and how close all of the girls are,” Allen said. “Every other sport has team chemistry, but I think there’s just something about softball in the way you have to interact. It’s a team sport, but it’s also like a solo sport in a way because you have to control your mind and your game to add on to everyone else’s at the same time while you’re messing with each other.”

There are similarities to being a catcher and a goalkeeper, and playing both positions has been mutually beneficial for Allen.

“I think the biggest similarity is just seeing the whole field and being able to tell people where they need to be or [tell them], ‘Hey, someone’s coming,’” Allen said. “[It’s also about] leading everyone to where we might be the most successful. I think it’s all decision making and very quick moments, so it’s very helpful in both ways.”

Allen has thrived both on the diamond and in the classroom as Groton’s Class of 2023 valedictorian with a 98.2 GPA. She’s managed to strike an effective balance between athletics and academics, something that will come in handy in college.

“I study every minute I can after practices or before practices and workouts,” Allen said. “In school I just took all the extra study halls and extra time I got to get all my work done when I could.”

Throughout all the games Allen has played, her twin sister Kate has been alongside her across all three sports. The bond they’ve shared both on and off the field is something that Allen will never forget.

“It’s a good feeling to be able to complete each season with her by my side knowing that I can talk to her about whatever, and she can obviously come to me about whatever,” Allen said. “Playing with her and having her by my side was probably the biggest thing ever.”