Amy Lisenbe/Nevada Appeal Carson High School's Christa Casci, softball short stop, gets ready to sign an agreement with Western Nevada College Monday afternoon at Carson High School as her mother, Janice, left, current coach, Scott Vickrey, center, and assistant coach, Jon Grant, right, look on.
Christa Casci won't have far to go to play softball at the next level.
Casci, the starting shortstop at Carson High the past three seasons, signed a letter of intent Monday afternoon to play for the first-year program at Western Nevada College next season.
The signed agreement is non-binding if Casci should change her mind and attend a four-year school instead.
"I didn't really want to be out on my own just yet," Casci said. "I thought I would stick around for a couple of years. It's always exciting to start something from the ground up. I'm glad it's a lot of local girls. I know how they play."
Casci will know at least two of her new teammates when she starts school in the fall - Spanish Springs shortstop Danielle Ming and Fernley's Frances Estrada.
Ming was one of the leaders for the Cougars, who just won the 4A title last weekend with an 11-0 win over Reed, and Estrada is considered one of the top 3A players in Northern Nevada.
Casci, a versatile athlete, most likely will be moved to the outfield by coaches Dick Allen and Louie Sanchez.
"Dick (Allen, head coach) and I talked it over, and we foresee moving her to her natural position where we can use her speed. She's capable of running balls down in the outfield. She played shortstop because she's a real good athlete, and high school teams usually put the best athlete at shortstop.
"She has played softball, volleyball, soccer and tennis. She's a great athlete, and I feel a good fit for us."
So does her high school coach Scott Vickrey.
"She is fluid in the outfield," Vickrey said. "She has great speed and runs the bases very well."
"She dropped a little (hitting average). She started working from the left side, and when you do that you take a dip back before you step back up."
Casci said that she didn't play infield until Vickrey moved her there her sophomore season after Liz Rankl graduated.
Hitting from the left side is something that Casci learned from Sanchez six or eight years ago. She got away from it, but it's something she plans to continue working on.
"I wanted to see what I could do with it," Casci said. "I definitely thought I was successful with it this year. It's something I definitely want to stick with."
Sanchez said that he will work with Casci on her slap hitting which will enable the Wildcats to make better use of her speed.
Sanchez said that recruiting is coming along slowly
He and Allen are looking far and wide for pitchers. In fact, Sanchez said that Allen was in California on a recruiting trip and was unable to attend the signing. The head coach has also been recruiting the Las Vegas area, too.
Sanchez said they have players already penciled in at the other positions, but the need for pitching is critical.
The Wildcats will play their games next season at Centennial Park in Carson City until a new on-campus facility can be built. Sanchez said that the new facility will be an all-turf field just like the Wildcats' baseball diamond.
baseball diamond.