Celularo Earns Spot Among Gator Greats

MEADVILLE, Pa. – If there is a period of time that stands out the most in the history of the Allegheny College softball team, it may very well be the four years when Gia Celularo patrolled the middle infield for the Gators, accruing more than her share of accolades and leading the team to the national playoffs year-in and year-out. Celularo, a 1988 graduate, will be rewarded for her outstanding contributions to the school by being inducted into the Allegheny Athletic Hall of Fame on Sunday, June 3.

“It is such a great honor,” remarked Celularo on her induction. “So many great athletes have been inducted.”

The Worcester, Mass., native joined an already established program in the fall of 1984 as the Gators finished fifth in the nation in 1983 and were ranked No. 5 in the 1985 preseason polls. As a high school standout at St. Peter-Marian Central, Celularo brought an impressive resume to Meadville and didn’t disappoint, earning the starting spot at second base and pitching.

“In high school, she was a dominant player,” said Kay Gould, who recruited and coached Celularo 1985 and 1986. “She was a very good hitter and had great glove skills. She understood the game and was an immediate impact player.”

As a freshman, Celularo did a little of everything for the team, batting .274 with 27 runs, 15 RBI, and five stolen bases. She also saw mound duties in 10 games, posting a record of 4-3 with an earned run average of 1.49. With Celularo pulling double-duty, Allegheny accumulated a record of 31-7, including a 23-game winning streak, and captured its second regional title in three years en route to a fourth-place national finish.

That was just a taste of things to come for Celularo and Allegheny. The following season, 1986, saw the Gators lose their opening game before ripping off a school-record 32 consecutive wins. Once again, Allegheny locked up the regional title on its home field, but fell in the national championships with two losses in three games. Celularo played her role perfectly, hitting .341 with 30 runs scored, 24 RBI, and seven stolen bases. To her surprise, she was tabbed first-team All-America, becoming the youngest Gator to earn first-team recognition.

“Our softball team was an incredible, wonderful group of women,” said Gould. “Gia was a great part of that. She was absolutely one of the committed Allegheny student-athletes.”

Following the 1986 season, a coaching change took place at Allegheny as Sheilah Lingenfelter moved up the ranks to replace Gould has head coach. Lingenfelter had served as the assistant coach in both 1985 and 1986 and knew what type of player she was getting in Celularo.

“Gia was the total player,” commented Lingenfelter. “She was outstanding on defense and she was also a great hitter. She played the game hard and gave her all on the softball field at all times.”

Under the new coach’s guidance, Celularo posted her finest offensive season in 1987, hitting .467 with school records for runs scored (45) and doubles (14). After starting the season 1-7, Allegheny caught fire at the end of its spring trip, winning 15 in a row and 21 of 24 heading into the regional tournament. Hosting the Central Regional for the third consecutive year, the Gators won all three of their games before dropping two very close games at the national championships.

Once again, Celularo was labeled with first-team national honors, as well as first-team All-Central Region accolades for the second consecutive season.

After scratching at the door for three years, Celularo and company went for it all in 1988, dropping only three games during the regular season. At the Central Regional, the host Gators wasted little time in taking care of business, shutting out all three of their opponents to capture their fourth regional title in as many years.

Allegheny, which had won just once in its previous seven national championship contests, picked up wins in each of its first two games before dropping a 1-0 decision to Central (Iowa) College. Facing elimination against perennial power Eastern Connecticut State University, Celularo led the Gators to victory by scoring the game’s only run in the third inning. She reached base in all three of her plate appearances, managing two of Allegheny’s four hits and drawing a walk. In the finale against Central, the Gators picked up two early runs and were just one out away from the national title, but the Dutch rallied in their final at bat to win 3-2.

Celularo batted .407 with a team-best 43 runs, eight doubles, 17 RBI, and 20 walks to become the first three-time All-American in school history following the 1988 season. Amazingly, she committed just one error in 175 chances at second base, posting the highest single-season fielding percentage (.994) for a middle infielder at Allegheny all-time.

Earning first-team All-Region accolades as a senior as well, the Gator second baseman ended her four-year tenure at or near the top of all of Allegheny’s career lists, including first in both runs (145) and hits (179), and second in batting average (.378), walks (50), and on-base percentage (.438). She retains a top-five ranking in those categories today.

But for Celularo, it was never about the numbers. Both Gould and Lingfelter echoed the same sentiments about her ability to lead and to be a team player no matter the situation. Whether she was cheering for her teammates with her Massachusetts’ accent or throwing batting practice without a pitching screen or filling in at catcher to hold runners on during spring break, she did anything her team needed her to do.

“Gia was the true meaning of a team player,” said Lingenfelter. “She was always there for the team and stepped up to every challenge that was thrown her way. She played for the love of the game and left everything on the field each and every day. You always knew Gia came to play!”

Even 22 years removed from her freshman year at Allegheny, Celularo acknowledges the path that brought her to the culmination of a Hall of Fame career.

“I worked so hard to represent Allegheny the best that I could,” said Celularo. “I could not have become a (Hall of Fame) member if it wasn’t for my father and mother. My parents have been everything to me. I would not be where I am today without them.”

Currently, Celularo is a master planner for Kadant Web Systems in Auburn, Mass., and stays active in competitive sports. She resides in Worcester with her five chocolate Labrador retrievers.

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