Gonzales commits to North Idaho

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake senior catcher Shelby Gonzales has always loved playing softball.

For more than 12 years, she has walked the diamond with aspirations of playing softball after she graduates from Moses Lake this June.

Gonzales’ dreams are coming true.

She gave her verbal commitment to take her skills behind home plate to North Idaho College and the Cardinals in November.

“It’s quite a relief,” Gonzales said of her commitment to North Idaho. “It seemed like everything fit.”

Gonzales has played softball for more than a decade and she said the sport has played a significant role in her life.

“I’ve been around the game since I was a baby,” she said. “I’ve been playing since I was 5 years old, for 12 years.”

While Gonzales loved playing recreational softball, she soon realized she was honing her skills for the future.

“There is more than (recreation) ball,” she said. “Starting at a young age I realized that what (I’m) doing is important.”

When Gonzales was 12 years old, she began to understand she had the ability to play softball for Moses Lake High School and beyond.

“I think it was my U-12 season,” she said. “Everything just clicked for me.”

Gonzales continued playing softball and improved her skills on the diamond.

During her sophomore year at Moses Lake High School, Gonzales attended an instructional camp at NIC. 

While she was at the camp, Gonzales said she was approached by some of the coaches who asked about her softball future, she said.

“Assuming by my size they thought I was a senior,” she said.

She told them she was a sophomore and the recruiting began.

Gonzales said she sent NIC a skills video and attended a recruiting camp to showcase her skills to collegiate coaches.

In October Gonzales agreed to go on a recruiting trip to NIC.

After her visit Oct. 17 and Oct. 18, Gonzales knew playing softball at NIC was the right fit for her and her future.

“It felt like home,” she said. “I could see myself going there. It just felt right.”

Gonzales said she connected with NIC players and her future coach Don Don Williams.

Following her decision to play softball for the Cardinals, Gonzales said she accomplished her dream.

“I did it,” she said. “I got recruited and someone wants me to play. I’m just really excited.”

Although Gonzales will attend NIC next fall, she has one season left in her softball career at Moses Lake High School.

She was a 2007 All-Columbia Basin Big Nine conference softball selection in 2007 for the Chiefs and looks to represent Moses Lake on the field in 2009.

While Gonzales is advancing her softball career at the collegiate level, she also represented Moses Lake High School on the volleyball court as well.

Gonzales is a two-time All-Columbia Basin Big Nine conference volleyball selection and was voted a co-captain for the Chiefs volleyball team. Gonzales was also voted the Moses Lake High School volleyball team’s most valuable player.

 In addition to her athletic accolades, Gonzales participates in numerous extracurricular activities and excels in the class room.

Gonzales is currently the Associated Student Body (ASB) president and served as the ASB vice president last year. She also is currently the Tribe Pep Club treaseruer and the 2008 Honor Society secretary.

Gonzales has maintained a 3.56 grade point average.

She will sign a national letter of intent to NIC in January.