Softball News: Katie Eckelberry, Former Player at Gannon University & Aspiring Coach, Killed in Car Accident

The softball community is morning the loss of former Gannon University (Erie, Pennsylvania) softball player Katie Eckelberry, who had also worked as a part-time assistant coach at Chatham University in Pittsburgh since December.

Eckelberry died early Saturday morning from injuries incurred in a car accident. She was 23-years-old. According to reports, she was involved in a head-on accident around midnight in Hampton Township, Pennsylvania and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The former second and third baseman at Gannon played for the Golden Knights from 2015 to 2018 and was a four-year letter winner. She studied to be a Physician Assistant and was named as a NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete and a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete.

She also was awarded the NCAA Division II Athletics Directors Association Achievement Award three times and graduated cum laude. Eckelberry was also actively involved with the Make-A-Wish foundation.

“Katie was such a tremendous individual who was committed to making a positive impact in the community,” Lisa Goddard McGuirk, Gannon Director of Athletics said in a release issued by the school. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends during this difficult time,”

Gannon Softball Coach Michelle Wiley added: “Kaitlyn was an amazing young lady who would brighten up any room she would walk into with her smile and energy. She was a perfect example of a successful student-athlete. She was one of the hardest workers that I have ever known both on and off the field. She pushed herself and her teammates to get better every day.”

“When I think of Katie,” the coach continued, “I always smile because she had such a beautiful soul and such a passion for life and softball. She was an amazing student, teammate, athlete, sister, daughter and most recently coach. She had such a positive impact on everyone she came in contact with.

“We will honor Katie this softball season. Her legacy will live on and will be shared with future softball student-athletes at Gannon. During this most difficult time, I continue to pray for Katie, her family, friends, Gannon softball and the student-athletes and coaches at Chatham University, where she had recently begun her coaching career.”

Funeral services for Eckelberry have not been announced.