March 29, 2024

PCM’s Waddell signs with Simpson College softball

MONROE — Prairie City-Monroe senior Abby Waddell made one of the toughest decisions of her life so far recently when she decided to extend her athletic career to the collegiate ranks.

Now, the next big decision will be whether or not she decides to play for one or two programs at Simpson College.

Waddell knows for sure she will play for the Storm softball team. An opportunity to play on the soccer pitch also exists.

“I am still deciding on whether or not to do both at Simpson. I have that opportunity if I want it,” Waddell said. “The (Simpson) soccer coach will come to see me play this spring, but the only decision I have made so far is that I will play softball.

“It really depends on how my season goes this year whether I play soccer or not.”

Waddell chose Simpson over similar opportunities from Wartburg College. She knew pretty early in the process that Simpson was the right fit for her.

“I chose Simpson because I love the campus, I love the softball team and I love their coach,” Waddell said. “From the moment I visited I knew I wanted to go there.”

Waddell was comfortable with the campus from the first visit. She also liked that two high school friends are already on campus.

Rachel Freland currently is a two-sport athlete at Simpson, playing both basketball and softball. Gunnar Davis is on the Simpson football team.

She also felt very comfortable around other future softball teammates.

“After I talked to the coaches and members of the team, it already felt like home and I haven’t even started yet,” Waddell said.

Waddell has been starting for PCM’s softball team since her freshman season.

She hit .296 with three RBIs, four walks and 14 runs her first full-time varsity season. In the outfield, she had 19 putouts and only five errors.

As a sophomore, Waddell batted .299 with nine RBIs, seven walks, four steals and 16 runs. She had two assists, 26 putouts and zero errors in the field.

Last season, as the team’s starting centerfielder, Waddell batted .286 with 12 RBIs, seven walks, four steals and 16 runs. In the outfield, she finished with 47 putouts, three assists and six errors.

After talking to new Simpson College softball coach Brent Matthias, who came to the school after coaching at Waverly-Shell Rock High School last year, Waddell said she most likely will stay in center field at the college level.

“He said he wants me to focus on center field because the better I am at center field, the more I can play right or left,” Waddell said. “I can’t even express how excited I am to keep playing. There are no words.”

Simpson is coming off a 31-11 season and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Storm have been to five NCAA Tournaments since 2004 and won at least 29 games since 2012.

Waddell plans to major in accounting. She is not sure what she wants to do within that major yet.

“I don’t want to take my time in high school for granted, but I cannot wait to see what the rest of my life has in store,” Waddell said.