Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009

Trio of softball signings headlines East ceremony

Three softball players from Olathe East's vaunted program took part in a ceremony Thursday in the Hawks' gymnasium, which recognized their college choices.

Laura Vickers, one of the area's most prolific hitters, signed with Kansas, while Shelbi Olson committed to Harvard and Sami Cockrell inked a national letter of intent with the University of Central Missouri.

For Vickers, the decision was a relatively easy one. She's been set on becoming a Jayhawk since the middle of her sophomore year.

“I never had any second thoughts,” Vickers said. “I did before I decided to go to KU. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go far away or stay close to home, but I decided to stay close so I can see my family and my family can see me. Once I picked KU, I was dead set on KU.”

Vickers, who has started at shortstop the last two springs, has helped guide East to a 64-7 record, including a Kansas 6A state championship, two Sunflower League titles, a third-place finish at state last year and a fifth-place showing as a sophomore.

A gifted defensive player with a strong arm, Vickers is a terror at the plate. She set a new state record with 50 RBIs, while batting .536 with nine doubles, 10 triples and two home runs as a junior.

By contrast, Olson landed with Harvard almost by accident.

“My sophomore year I started sending out letters and since I had a pretty high ACT score (34), I thought, 'Why not?' and just send a letter to Harvard,” she said. “I didn't figure it could hurt, and then they came and watched me this past summer and decided they wanted me to play for them.”

The Crimson doesn't offer athletic scholarships, but Olson, who boasts a 4.2 grade-point average, will receive plenty of need-based financial aid, she said.

“It's kind of surreal to me still, but I'm really excited,” said Olson, who batted .368 as a junior.

She hopes a rigorous course schedule at East has helped prepare her for the challenges ahead as a student-athlete at the nation's oldest — and one of its most prestigious — universities.

Cockrell's tale is perhaps the most inspiring.

Relatively light hitting, Cockrell is a slasher who used her speed and a good eye at the plate to post a .302 on-base percentage last year, but her strength is her defense.

By signing with the Jennies, she becomes the first female from her immediate family to attend college.

“That's the only way I was getting to college was on scholarship, so it's a relief,” said Cockrell, who is friends with 2009 Olathe North graduate and current UCM softball player Sarah Espy.

She plans to major in education and hopes to crack the lineup as a second baseman. But just making it to college already is quite an accomplishment for Cockrell.

“My mom was in tears and just so excited for me, because she's never been to college,” Cockrell said. “She was like, 'I'm so happy for you,' but I'm sure she's going to miss me too.”

Two other seniors also signed with colleges Thursday.

Conner Murray, who plays shortstop and pitches for the baseball team, signed with Kansas. He batted .413 last spring and struck out 57 in 36 innings with a 3.50 ERA for the Hawks.

“It'll be a lot of fun since my brother is already there,” said Murray, who will pitch and play third base for the Jayhawks.

His older brother, Colton, went 2-3 with a 3.23 ERA out of the bullpen for Kansas as a freshman last year.

“He's filled me in about everything to expect,” Murray said. “When the coaches were all calling me in June, it was a pretty easy decision. It's allowing me to fulfill my lifetime dream (of playing Big 12 college baseball).”

Finally, Kristen Stivers, whose 29-4 record tied the all-time Hawks girls tennis mark for victories in a single season, will continue her career at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

She finished fifth at state after placing eighth as a junior.

“It's more than I dreamed honestly,” said Stivers, a three-time state qualifier. “My senior year was actually better than I expected.”

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