|
|
|
No surprise here.
Senior Megan Heimbaugh of Rolla High School on Saturday, Jan. 21 signed a letter of intent to attend and play softball at East Central College.
East Central is a junior college located at Union, Mo. Heimbaugh, a four-year starter at shortstop for the RHS Lady Bulldogs, had decided before her senior campaign that she would attend East Central and find out what level of colligate softball she will compete at before transferring to a four-year school.
She wants to eventually major in early childhood education. “I want to be a kindergarten teacher,” Heimbaugh said.
“I decided (on East Central) probably at the beginning of this season,” she said. “I talked with them over the summer.”
Heimbaugh was one of six players that the East Central College Falcon softball squad signed on Jan. 21. Another area player from that group of signees is all-stater Michelle Bryant of Crocker High School.
At Rolla High Heimbaugh was a part of the finest four-year run in program history. The Lady Bulldogs were 18-9 when Heimbaugh was a freshman and followed that with seasons of 18-9, 21-6 and 21-5. During that span RHS captured one district championship (2010) and won three consecutive Ozark Conference championships, including unbeaten league seasons the last two years.
She was the anchor of the RHS infield all four years at shortstop. And as a senior she had her best season at the plate, with a .341 batting average with 28 hits, nine doubles, three triples, three homers, 21 RBI and 31 runs scored. She also set the RHS single-season record for fewest errors at shortstop (four).
“I think East Central is great for her,” RHS softball head coach Tim Dunn said of Heimbaugh. “One of the big things about East Central is (softball head coach Brad) Wallach, who is from Eureka and has really done a lot to improve that program.”
When Heimbaugh and East Central first began talking about a possible fit, the positions considered for her were shortstop, third base and catcher. It appears the position she’s most comfortable at – shortstop – is where she’ll get first crack.
“(Wallach) said he would like me to play at shortstop,” Heimbaugh said. “But he also knows I can catch. Between the two, I like playing shortstop the most. I like being in control in the infield. I like catching, too. I just like shortstop more.”
Heimbaugh got recent catching experience playing for her summer traveling team, the Diamond Wildcats of Jefferson City, the past two years.
No surprise here.
Senior Megan Heimbaugh of Rolla High School on Saturday, Jan. 21 signed a letter of intent to attend and play softball at East Central College.
East Central is a junior college located at Union, Mo. Heimbaugh, a four-year starter at shortstop for the RHS Lady Bulldogs, had decided before her senior campaign that she would attend East Central and find out what level of colligate softball she will compete at before transferring to a four-year school.
She wants to eventually major in early childhood education. “I want to be a kindergarten teacher,” Heimbaugh said.
“I decided (on East Central) probably at the beginning of this season,” she said. “I talked with them over the summer.”
Heimbaugh was one of six players that the East Central College Falcon softball squad signed on Jan. 21. Another area player from that group of signees is all-stater Michelle Bryant of Crocker High School.
At Rolla High Heimbaugh was a part of the finest four-year run in program history. The Lady Bulldogs were 18-9 when Heimbaugh was a freshman and followed that with seasons of 18-9, 21-6 and 21-5. During that span RHS captured one district championship (2010) and won three consecutive Ozark Conference championships, including unbeaten league seasons the last two years.
She was the anchor of the RHS infield all four years at shortstop. And as a senior she had her best season at the plate, with a .341 batting average with 28 hits, nine doubles, three triples, three homers, 21 RBI and 31 runs scored. She also set the RHS single-season record for fewest errors at shortstop (four).
“I think East Central is great for her,” RHS softball head coach Tim Dunn said of Heimbaugh. “One of the big things about East Central is (softball head coach Brad) Wallach, who is from Eureka and has really done a lot to improve that program.”
When Heimbaugh and East Central first began talking about a possible fit, the positions considered for her were shortstop, third base and catcher. It appears the position she’s most comfortable at – shortstop – is where she’ll get first crack.
“(Wallach) said he would like me to play at shortstop,” Heimbaugh said. “But he also knows I can catch. Between the two, I like playing shortstop the most. I like being in control in the infield. I like catching, too. I just like shortstop more.”
Heimbaugh got recent catching experience playing for her summer traveling team, the Diamond Wildcats of Jefferson City, the past two years.
“She’s a very good athlete,” Dunn said. “About anywhere you put her she would succeed. I think she’ll do well at shortstop for them.”
Heimbaugh does not plan to play for the Diamond Wildcats this summer, instead staying home and playing for the Rolla Unknowns to cut down on the travel.
“Last year I got wore out; we played every single weekend,” she said. “Getting ready to go into college, I don’t want to play that much over the summer.”
She knows that her game needs to continue to improve before she starts play at the next level.
“Definitely I have to keep working on my fielding and my hitting,” Heimbaugh said. “Probably the one I need to work on the most is hitting.”
