BY MIKE HOUSER
Nevada Appeal Sports Writer
For record-setting Carson High School senior Cassie Vondrak, the offer was too good to pass up.
On Thursday Vondrak, who hit a school-record seven home runs for the Senators as a sophomore, signed a letter of intent to play for the Western Nevada College Wildcats softball team next season.
"It's been kind of a lingering thing " it was just a good opportunity, so I decided to go there," said Vondrak, while fending off the good-natured gibes of Louie Sanchez, who began coaching Vondrak "when she was 8 or 9."
The Wildcats open their inaugural season Jan. 30 against Central Arizona College, in Henderson.
"When the program started, I was interested and a good opportunity came about, and I decided to take it," Vondrak said.
Asked what the Wildcats would be getting from Vondrak, sixth-year Carson head coach Scott Vickrey ticked off a list of superlatives.
"She's a great athlete. She has a fantastic attitude and a great work ethic," Vickrey said. "She set the school's home run record (in 2006-07) and probably for distance for well. (The shot) cleared the road and the ditch on the fly and hit the JV fence.
"She's a positive role model for the rest of the team. I can't speak highly enough about her. She'll leave a big hole in there. (WNC coach Scott) Rasner has got somebody who can put (the Wildcats) in a game defensively in the circle and be an offensive threat as well."
The 5-foot-11 1/2 Vondrak, quiet, soft-spoken and all smiles off the field, was menacing from the plate for the 15-12 Senators last year, with a .381 batting average, three homers and 31 runs batted in.
The right-hander, who is also a center for the CHS basketball team boasted a 0.80 earned run average, with 69 strikeouts in 65 innings from the circle.
Sanchez, now an assistant coach for the Wildcats, said Vondrak has what it takes to eventually become one of the top pitchers in Northern Nevada and the state. He said Vondrak throws in the low 60s, has good command of her curveball and dropball and worked with Sanchez and assistant coach Bob Carvin over the fall to improve her changeup and riseball.
"She has good velocity," Sanchez said. "Not only that, she's a great hitter. She hits with a lot of power. I wouldn't be surprised if she hits 10-12 homers. She's got a great (grade point average)."For Vondrak, working with Sanchez will be an added bonus.
"It's amazing. I'm glad that Louie will be one of my coaches, because I've known him since I was little," Vondrak said. "I'm glad to be able to continue working with him."
Rasner, who moved into the head coaching position last week after Dick Allen left the team for personal reasons, said Vondrak is exactly the kind of player and person he wants in the program.
"She's a good student and has even more potential as a player," Rasner said. "She's only 17, with a huge upside. She's extremely talented. When we started this (program), our focus was to get as many local kids as possible. To get Cassie was a huge catch for us " especially with her being a Carson girl and all."
With Crista Casci leaving the team after one semester, the Wildcats haven't had a player from Carson High School on its roster. That will soon change.
"I'm very happy to stay in Carson," Vondrak said. "I'll get to stay at home and live with my family. It's a wonderful opportunity to play softball. I'm hoping to beat my home run record and just be strong pitching from the mound and help my team go to zone and hopefully state."
- Contact Mike Houser at mhouser@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1214