PCM’s Freland signs with D-II Rogers State

MONROE — It was a difficult choice. And Prairie City-Monroe senior Rachel Freland is still coping with the decision.

Freland had a standout season on the softball diamond for the Mustangs in 2014 and she also has proven her worth on the basketball court during her career.

Deciding which sport to pursue at the next level wasn’t easy but last week, the Mustang senior chose the diamond as she inked a National Letter of Intent to play softball for NCAA Division II Rogers State University.

“It was a tough decision, and I am still dealing with the fact that I won’t be able to play basketball anymore after this year,” Freland said. “Basketball has always had my heart. I have played a lot of AAU ball. But I got a really good offer from Rogers State, liked the school and it just felt right.”

Freland averaged around 13 points per game for the Mustang basketball squad during the second half of last season after moving in from West Marshall. She is scoring better than 20 points per game so far in two games this year.

But she’s not too bad at softball, either.

Freland went 13-2 in the circle last year with a Heart of Iowa Athletic Conference-best 1.18 earned run average. She also struck out 77 hitters in 107 innings and held opposing batters to a HOIAC-low .116 batting average in 16 starts while sharing the circle with then-freshman Kayla Jennings.

The Mustangs nearly advanced to the state tournament, falling to West

Burlington, 6-4, in a regional final.

PCM went 22-7 on the year, won the HOIAC at 16-2 and had win streaks of eight and 10 during the season.

“Rachel is a hard throwing, left-handed pitcher that led her high school team to the semifinals of the playoffs,” Rogers State head coach Amy Cope said on the school’s website. “She not only has good speed, but also is able to move the ball very well for a pitcher at her young age. She will be an anchor for us in the circle.”

The first-team all-HOIAC picked Rogers State over two schools in Missouri — William Woods and Missouri Western. Freland liked the size of Rogers State, which is located in Claremore, Okla.

“It is not too huge but not too small either,” Freland said. “The only part I am really struggling with right now is that I will be so far away from home, but God has a plan for me and I am going to follow it.”

The relationship with Rogers State began last winter. Freland’s pitching coach, Rich Thomas, has a connection to the school. His son currently goes there.

Rogers State’s coaching staff told Freland last December that they would come watch her play in the summer and were in Monroe for the Mustangs’ 15-2 win over Roland-Story on June 4.

Freland visited the Rogers State campus just before school started in August and made signed her LOI last Tuesday before going on Thanksgiving break.

She said Rogers State expects her to “get her feet and experience being a collegiate athlete” during her initial season, but Freland expects to compete for a spot in the circle in her final three years.

The Hillcats’ 2015 roster includes four pitchers — three juniors and a sophomore. Freland, who also hit .244 with eight RBIs and 15 runs scored for PCM last year, was the only pitcher signed by Cope during the early signing period. So far, the 2016 recruiting class includes four student-athletes.

“This signing class is very exciting for our softball program,” said Cope, who enters her second year as head coach. “All four student-athletes are very talented in their own unique ways. They have all played at a high level for their respective high school and junior college programs. They will be a great addition to the foundation that we are building through this transition.”

Meanwhile, Freland — who is leaning toward a major in communications — hopes her final high school season on the diamond ends in a state tournament trip to Fort Dodge in July.

“The expectations are high going into the year,” Freland said. “I feel like this is our year to do it. We lost a few good players, but we have several good ones coming back, too.”