Sports

RKA’s Pierce to play college softball at Manhattan

Zanovia Pierce will be the first athlete from Riverdale/Kingsbridge – in any sport – to compete on the Division I level. And she won’t have to go very far to do it.

An athletic, 5-foot-11 left-hander, Pierce has committed to play college softball as a recruited walk-on at nearby Manhattan College. A strong student, she will also receive an academic scholarship.

“It’s so surprising,” Pierce said. “I did not expect to do this at all. It was like a shot in the dark. I’m honored to be the first.”

The senior can walk to Manhattan from her Riverdale home, but will dorm to get the full college experience. Plus, she still gets the benefits of being minutes from her family.

“I’ll have home-cooked meals and laundry and everything,” Pierce said with a laugh.

The ace pitcher led Riverdale/Kingsbridge to the PSAL Class A second round this season, where it fell to eventual semifinalist Francis Lewis.

She wasn’t recruited for her pitching ability, though. Manhattan coach Tom Pardalis, who saw Pierce play multiple times this summer with the Hudson River Panthers travel team, is more interested in her projectable power from the left side of the plate and her work at first base, according to Pierce.

There remains a possibility she could pitch for the Jaspers, former RKA coach Bob Finz said, but at the college level first base will probably be her best position.

“I think based on her offensive abilities and her first base possibilities – and the possibility she could pitch – it think it was a good match,” said Finz, who retired as coach and school athletic director after last season.

Pierce had a .605 batting average and .977 slugging percentage this season for Riverdale/Kingsbridge. She pitched to a 3.77 ERA, striking out 116 batters in 89 innings pitched. Those eye-popping numbers were good enough to be selected first team All-Bronx by The Post.

“She’d be a good college player, because the bigger the game, the better she plays,” said Rich Eaton, coach of rival DeWitt Clinton. “It will be nice to see her play in The Bronx against someone other than us.”

After her senior season, where RKA figures to contend in PSAL Bronx A again, Pierce will be off to college – five minutes away to Manhattan College. She plans on signing all her papers Oct. 15 at the school’s softball clinic.

“I am so excited,” Pierce said. “I know it’s going to be a big-time [challenge], but I can’t wait. I met all the girls. I really like the vibe of the team.”

mraimondi@nypost.com