ADAMS TWP — Having two older brothers — one pitching in professional baseball and the other likely headed there — hasn't put any pressure on Mars junior softball shortstop Danielle Bednar.

Quite the opposite.

“They've been inspirations to me all my life,” Bednar said of brothers David and Will. “They worked their butts off to get where they are.

“That's inspiring. They make me want to work harder.”

Now she's following in their footsteps.

Bednar recently accepted a scholarship offer to continue her academic and softball career at Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pa. She becomes the third sibling to move on to Division 1 ball.

David Bednar, a relief pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates now, played at Lafayette College. Will is pitching for Mississippi State and is eligible for this summer's Major League Baseball amateur draft.

Their younger sister has her college plan in place despite limited high school experience to this point.

Danielle Bednar hit over .300 as a freshman shortstop for the Planets. Her sophomore season was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I feel fortunate to have my college decision made so early,” she said. “The coach at Saint Francis did it for me. The first time I talked to her, we were on the phone for more than an hour. We really hit it off.

“She made me feel like they wanted me. And they have an excellent business program there. That's the field I want to get into.”

Bednar is off to a hot start this season. She has six hits in her first eight at bats over three games, has walked four times and delivered a sacrifice bunt.

After the Pirates were swept in a three-game series in Cincinnati, David Bednar sent a text to his father saying: “I don't know who's hotter right now, the Cincinnati Reds or Danielle Bednar.”

A left-handed batter, she hits second in the Mars lineup.

“We can count on Danielle for almost anything,” Planet coach Michele Goodworth said. “She is such a versatile player.”

Bednar is actually going to Saint Francis as a utility player. She has played second base, third base and the outfield in softball. She had not played shortstop on a regular basis until high school.

“My coach needed me to play there, so I'm playing there,” Bednar said. “I'll do anything to help the team win.”

Saying she was sold on Saint Francis early, Bednar never seriously considered another school. Kara Stroup Sroka, one of Mars' assistant coaches, played at Saint Francis and graduated as one of that program's top home run hitters and RBI producers.

“Kara helped initiate the talks between them (Red Flash coach Jessica O'Donnell and Bednar),” Goodworth said.

“Kara coaches my travel team, too, so we talk a lot,” Bednar said. “She said she had such a great experience at Saint Francis and I'm confident I will, too.”

O'Donnell is in her third year as head coach of the Red Flash. The team is off to a 24-7 start this year, 9-1 in North East Conference play. Saint Francis has won three consecutive NEC championships and defeated Pitt and Penn State in 2019.

From 2016-18, the team was 45-3 in NEC play.

“They've been a consistent winner, for sure,” Bednar said. “That's exciting.”

Bednar also played volleyball at Mars her freshman and sophomore years before deciding to concentrate solely on softball. She played baseball until she was 10.

“I was always drawn to the ballfield,” she said. “I guess my brothers had something to do with that.”