Someone had to lead the Mercyhurst University softball team into a new era.
Why not two former Erie County high school stars?
Hurst sits on the cusp of a Northeast Conference tournament berth. As weeks wane in the Lakers’ second season of NCAA Division I competition, homegrown players drive newfound success.
McDowell High School graduate Gabby DeLuca leads the team in RBIs, extra base hits and more. She also boasts the team’s best earned run average inside the pitcher’s circle.
General McLane grad Bailey Cannon, meanwhile, plays a key role both offensively and defensively. Now a junior, she’s experienced Hurst’s D-I rise first-hand.
More work is required to make Hurst an NCAA contender. A foundation, however, has been built by players familiar to local fans.
“I think softball in Erie County is underrated and I like being able to showcase the great players here,” Mercyhurst head coach Leanne Baker said. “I try every year to get at least one Erie County player to stay home, and it’s always great when they do.”
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Staying home
DeLuca carried five home runs, 23 RBIs and a .333 batting average into Mercyhurst’s April 18-19 series at New Haven. She was tied for the team lead in home runs while leading the Lakers in doubles (8), slugging percentage (.617) and OPS (.977).
Less than one year ago, she wore a McDowell Trojans uniform.
“I love Mercyhurst and I love the girls. They’ve really helped me step up,” DeLuca said. “I wasn’t seeing a lot of good pitches first half of the season but have gotten a lot better with being more selective.”
Gabby DeLuca prepares to pitch during a Mercyhurst University softball game in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Cannon’s 13 walks led the team as of April 18. She’d scored 16 runs and driven in 14 while bumping her batting average up to .280 after hitting .118 as a sophomore.
“Last year, I was in my head and maybe trying to swing out of my shoes,” Cannon said. “I’m keeping it simple, going back to basics and playing softball.”
Cannon and DeLuca, two of four pitchers used by the Lakers, pitched 97 combined innings before departing for New Haven. Former Warren High School standout Alana Stuart, a freshman, provides another pitching option.
Bailey Cannon awaits a pitch during a Mercyhurst University softball game in Erie, Pennsylvania.
“The college strike zone is a lot smaller, so it’s been frustrating, and a learning curve for me,” DeLuca said. “My coaches have definitely helped me along the way.”
Mercyhurst rosters five former District 10 high school players, including Cambridge Springs grad Alexandra Acosta-Reyes, a senior who owns a .274 batting average with four doubles and 13 runs scored. Maddie Adams, a sophomore from Northwestern, has scored three runs this spring.
“They’re gritty. The weather doesn’t shake them,” Baker said of Erie-born players. “The first question I ask anyone from outside this area is whether they like the snow.”
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McDowell High School graduate Gabby DeLuca is now a freshman pitcher/middle infielder at Mercyhurst University.
Turning the page
Hurst, at 3-18, finished last in the NEC in 2025. It started this season 7-10, just outside of the top four standing required to reach the conference tournament.
DeLuca homered and drove in six runs during a 10-5 win at New Haven on April 18. She also earned the win, her fourth of the season.
“We feel more comfortable and confident in each other and ourselves,” Cannon said. “We’re taking strides forward and working toward exactly where we want to be.”
General McLane High School graduate Bailey Cannon is now a junior pitcher/utility player at Mercyhurst University.
Baker hopes to see offense, defense and pitching align as the regular season concludes. One home series remains April 25-26 amidst trips to Oakland (Michigan), Niagara and LIU.
“(My family) comes to every single game and are always there for me,” Cannon said. “High school coaches, travel coaches and friends have come. It’s just really awesome that they all get to be there to support me and see me at the next level.”
Contact Jeff Uveino at juveino@gannett.com. Follow him on X @realjuveino.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County softball products DeLuca, Cannon star at Mercyhurst