BUCYRUS — Alexis Dye has played softball for a good part of her life. The Bucyrus senior now knows that her career will not end after this year.
Dye signed her letter of intent to attend and play softball for Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio. The Arrows’ athletic programs participate in the Greater Midwest Athletic Conference, which included the University of Findlay and Tiffin University.
“It’s very exciting and I’m super anxious to get there and get started,” Dye said. “I’ve been describing it as bittersweet.”
It was not love at first sight for Dye when Arrows coach Sue Woodford first began the recruiting process.
“They found me at a tournament,” Dye said. “The first time I visited, I thought they were OK. The second time I went back, I fell in love with the place. Every time I go back, I love it more and more.”
Jerry Hargis has been her coach her entire career at Bucyrus and is happy that his protégé will continue play on the diamond, this year and beyond.
“It’s been enjoyable to watch her grow and for this girl to get an opportunity — to make an opportunity for herself,” Hargis said. “We’ll see what she does with it, but I’m sure she’ll leave Bucyrus with fond memories.”
Scheduling conflicts and an injury prevented Dye from being a multisport athlete past her freshman year. She ran track in junior high, but it bumps up against softball. A knee injury in her sophomore year ended her basketball career. She is, however, on the Redmen cheer squad.
Dye will major in pre-law, so she will truly be a student athlete. Coach Woodford — in her ninth year at the Ursuline helm — will be happy with that as her teams have finished in the Top 25 nationally in grade point average each year since 2006.
“Her grade point average is excellent,” Hargis said. “It’s 3.86 or something like that, so she’s a good student. The family’s (parents Tabitha and Carl) done a tremendous job with her. They brought her and put her where she is.”
The opportunity to play will be enhanced when Dye arrives on campus next fall.
“They are very young,” Dye said. “They have seniors this year but no juniors. So, we won’t have any seniors when I get there.”
Mostly an infielder at Bucyrus, Dye says the Arrows look at her as competing for the third base job, though she may also play some outfield. She also pitched some to help the Lady Redmen, but her injury has limited her effectiveness in the circle.
Dye is fully anticipating her experience at Ursuline, but she has some unfinished business with the Lady Redmen her senior year.
Bucyrus shared the Northern 10 Athletic Conference title last year and Dye thinks that there is a possibility of a second championship before she leaves her alma mater.
“We tied Carey for the N10 championship,” Dye said. “I definitely think we can come back (for another title) and make it even further in the tournament.”
“She’s one of our captains this year,” Hargis said. “She’s worked her tail off at this game and she works all summer at it. It’s my pleasure just to coach a girl like that.”