Vlasta Mangia ’15 Scherer considered multiple institutions and multiple sports in her college search, ultimately turning toward North Central College due to a series of familiar connections. Making a seamless transition into a role as one of the Cardinals’ top players right away, Scherer contributed to 115 victories in a four-year career.
“I felt like it was meant to be,” said Scherer, who visited larger NCAA Division I and Division II programs and considered playing volleyball at the collegiate level before matriculating to Naperville. “(Head coach Jim Kulawiak) had been the softball coach at my high school, and my high school coach was his assistant. One of my teammates, Taylor Ryan ’14, came in the same year as me and played in my high school conference, and academically everything fit well. I thought it went the way it was meant to go.”
Scherer started all 40 games for the Cardinals in 2011, pitching 17 complete games in 20 starts in the circle. North Central won its seventh College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament as Scherer allowed one run on three hits in a 4-1 championship game victory over Carthage College.
‘That’s one of my favorite games,” Scherer said. “The team’s energy was so high and never dropped at all. I gave up a home run and our infielders all came and told me to shake it off. It helped me remember to just relax and have fun.”
Forced to pitch more frequently as a junior due to injuries within the team, Scherer set a program record with 230.2 innings pitched in 2013, completing all 32 games started. Scherer led the CCIW in earned-run average (1.64) and shutouts (8) while ranking fifth among all NCAA Division III pitchers in wins (25). Scherer pitched a perfect game Apr. 20, 2013 against Millikin University, one of a program-best four no-hitters, and helped lead the Cardinals to a 35-12 record and the championship game of the Division III Regional Championship.
Scherer and the Cardinals lifted a regional championship trophy the following year, hosting a best-of-three Super Regional against perennial national contender, the University of Saint Thomas (Minnesota). North Central lost a 7-6, nine-inning decision in the first game and won the second, 12-2, before a 10-4 setback in the pivotal third contest.
“From a general perspective, you can still be proud of (the first game) even though it’s a loss,” she said. “The second game was awesome. It was really, really fun and reminded me of the conference tournament game from freshman year.”
A four-time All-CCIW selection and two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region honoree, Scherer holds the Cardinals’ career records for pitching victories (64) and innings pitched (659.2) while ranking third in shutouts (16) and strikeouts (318). She ranks in the top 10 in eight offensive categories as well, sitting third in home runs (16), fourth in hits (186), fifth in triples (10), seventh in runs (123) and stolen bases (26), eighth in games played (167) and ninth in runs batted in (100).
The familiar connections which initially drew Scherer to North Central continue to show up in her daily life today in the principles of teamwork and leadership which set the stage for individual success in athletics.
“I’ve played sports my whole life, and a lot of coaches have instilled the same key components,” she said. “Things like putting in the work and being disciplined, and even Coach K’s principles of having a firm handshake and making sure to run off the field. I’m definitely blessed and grateful to have had that consistency in coaching.”
