Lady Chiefs' softball star headed east
Courtesy photoMoses Lake High School senior Alexis Ballinger (center) signed a national letter of intent on Wednesday to attend Towson University on a softball scholarship. Also at her signing were, from far left, father Jay Ballinger, high school principal Dave Balcom, high school softball coach Dave Gregory, and mother Renee Ballinger.
Ballinger signs letter of intent with Towson University
MOSES LAKE - Alexis Ballinger, a three-sport senior athlete at Moses Lake High School, will be taking her considerable talents far from home next year.
On Wednesday, Ballinger signed a national letter of intent with the Towson University softball program. Towson is an NCAA Division I school located just outside of Baltimore. Ballinger received offers from some smaller schools, but chose Towson because of its Division I status and the full-ride scholarship that comes with it.
"I'm looking forward to playing as competitive as you can get," Ballinger said. "Unless you go to the semi-pros or the Olympics, Division I is as good as you can get. The girls you play against are very competitive."
Ballinger's first three years of high school athletics have been impressive. She's a three-year letter winner in soccer, basketball and softball, started every Lady Chiefs softball game for the past two years, and was the starting first baseman and team captain last spring.
She drew the attention of Towson head coach Lisa Costello, however, because of her role with the Washington Phoenix, a Tacoma-based club team that travels throughout the year to tournaments in California, Colorado, Florida and other locales.
Ballinger was impressed with the Tigers' program, and the university's old-school feel, when she visited the campus in September. The Tigers have a high-quality workout facility and a strong athletic training coach, she noted, and academics are also a high priority - Costello's players have a 100 percent graduation rate and team tutors work around players' busy schedules.
Towson doesn't redshirt its players, Ballinger said, so she'll have an opportunity to play right away. The Tigers have been successful of late - last year's 25-31 overall mark was the first time they finished below .500 in nine years.
And, Costello seems to be the type of coach Ballinger will fit in well with.
"She's pretty blunt - she'll tell you what's wrong, what's going on, and try to help you," Ballinger said.
As one of the Lady Chiefs' top returning power hitters and run producers for 2007, Ballinger added that she wanted to help Moses Lake get to the 4A state tournament this spring. She's also hoping to secure a first-team selection to the All-Columbia Basin League squad.