BHS Standout Athlete Riggs Signs Letter of Intent with University of Pittsburgh Softball Program
By Julie Perine on November 15, 2018 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Emily Riggs was just a sophomore when she verbally committed to play softball at University of Pittsburgh. Today, the Bridgeport High School senior and standout athlete made it official, signing her letter of intent at the BHS Library before family, coaches and team members. Following her May graduation from BHS, she will attend Pitt and begin training for the Panthers’ 2019 season.
She is just as sure today as she was in August of 2016 that Pitt is the school and athletic program for her.
“I had no problems committing that early because I had toured the campus, met the coaches and met a few players. It was the perfect fit,” she said. “When I was touring different colleges, my travel coach told me, ‘Emily, you will know the feeling when you experience it.’ I really didn’t know what she meant by that until I stepped foot on the Pitt campus. I got that feeling she was talking about. It felt right.”
Riggs also likes that Pitt is in the power conference – the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) – and faces quality competition.
Pitt is also a nationally top-ranked physical therapy program; a field she has desired to study since she was a little girl. Carrying a near-perfect GPA, a consistent honor roll student and member of the National Honor Society, Riggs is just as conscientious about academics as she is athletics. She is also in the school’s chapter of Drug Free Clubs of America and Junior Humane Society and has worked with the Key Club.
Since committing, Riggs has added to her collection of athletic honors: Class AA All-State First Team and Big 10 honors for softball in 2017, Class AA All-State First Team for softball in 2018 and Class AA All-State Third Team for basketball in 2018.
She was instrumental in both teams’ winning seasons during the 2017-18 school year. The Lady Indians softball team earned sectional championship honors and the basketball team played in the WVSSAC Class AA state tournament after claiming a regional championship over Roane County; a game in which Riggs scored 37 points.
BHS Softball Coach Larry “Rabbit” Snider said the shortstop has been instrumental in the Lady Indians’ last three winning seasons; not only her personal athletic contributions, but also her contagious spirit.
“When you have that kind of caliber, it just brings everyone else’s game up a little bit,” he said.
Riggs will be a great fit for the Pitt program, Snider said.
“She has such good work ethic and, of course, athletic ability, in addition to her love for the sport and just her overall demeanor toward the sport,” he said.
Riggs began her athletic career as a very little girl. She played T-ball at age five or six and moved up through the Little League organization, consistently earning All-Star honors. She played parks and recreation basketball since age seven, then advancing to the Jerry West league. At age 12, she won the NFL’s Punt, Pass & Kick Competition Pittsburgh Steelers Team Championship.
She was a freshman starter on the Lady Indian softball team. The shortstop emerged as the team’s only first-team All-Stater and was one of only two freshmen in Class AA to earn a first team nod. Also named Big 10 Conference’s freshman of the year, Riggs had a banner season for the Lady Indians. She batted .568 with seven home runs, nine doubles, four triples and 34 RBIs. In addition to city and school teams, Riggs consistently participated in travel leagues.
It was while playing for a U18 organization out of Pennsylvania that she got the attention of Pitt officials. Pitt wasn’t her only offer. Also interested in the standout was Coastal Carolina, Robert Morris and Youngstown State.
Riggs thanks the community for its support over her lifelong athletic endeavors. She said she will do her best to represent the city of Bridgeport during collegiate play and she will forever carry with her cherished memories of BHS athletics. She shared some of those highlights.
“It was my junior year of basketball sectionals against Lincoln, as well as regionals against Roane County, when I scored 37 points,” she said. “Also, spaghetti dinners and Christmas parties for basketball, BB&T athletic banquets, bus rides for basketball and anytime I got to spend with my best friends on the field and court.”
Editor's Note: See additional pictures of Riggs' signing, with her parents Melissa and Curtis, sister Bailey, coaches Larry "Rabbit" Snider (BHS), Richele Hall (travel league), Mark Goodwin and Greg Goff (youth league coaches) and Tribe softball teammates a t the gallery below.
