Most high school athletes hope to find a college willing to offer them an athletic scholarship, but very few are chosen—especially twice.
Back in November, Pride softball pitcher Alexis Mettler committed to play for the University of Delaware. However, news broke just before the end of the season that Delaware was ready to part ways with their head coach, the person who recruited Mettler. Concerned with the change in coaching, Mettler decided to re-evaluate her decision.
“We heard of the coach getting fired and it's heartbreaking because my mind was set for a long time and I needed to weigh my options to see what is best for me with school ending,” she said. “And my ultimate decision was not to go there and find another home.”
The University of Delaware allowed Mettler to revoke her commitment, leaving the graduating senior the ability to look elsewhere.
With her senior season in full swing, Mettler found time between throwing strikes and her studies to begin the process of recruitment once again.
Her coaches and father assisted in reaching out to other universities which still needed to fill a spot for a highly-ranked pitcher.
Mettler, who is a four-year varsity pitcher and plays softball year around, found no issues at all with the recruiting process, however, time was not on her side.
Ultimately, it came down to a handful of schools, with the most prestigious being the University of Virginia, Florida International and Drexel University.
After two great performances over Atwater and Buhach Colony, where she tossed a combined 11 innings and allowed only one earned run, Virginia head coach Blake Miller was sold and offered her an opportunity to compete in the infamous Atlantic Coast Conference, a Division I power in nearly every category.
“I loved it, it was gorgeous,” said Mettler. “It's a college town, everybody was so nice and welcoming and a great environment to be around and everybody seems proud to be at the school."
Mettler also was sold when she found out the school offered a bio-chemistry major.
“I didn't really think about collegiate ball too much, I just love the game and wherever I went I was going to be happy as long as I got an education and played ball I would be happy,” Mettler added. “My dad said this is where I should be. He saw how I was acting and could not stop smiling and laughing."
Mettler ends her career having led the Pride in the following categories for the 2015 season: batting average (.440), runs (33), RBI (28), wins (22) and strikeouts with 239, not to mention 31 stolen bases, which was also tops in the Central California Conference.
She also ends her four-year varsity career as the Pride's all-time leader in runs (96), hits (142), RBI (77), SB (73) and wins at 46. Her 521 career strikeouts is second behind Janessa Guevara's 624.
To wow even more people, she was the CCC offensive player of the year, an Academic All-League selection all four years, and a US Marine Corps Scholar Athlete Award recipient.
“To me, it means that I had the team support me and get through it all because without them I could not have done any of what I have done,” Mettler added. “Mentally, I had to go through some battles but I tried not to be too hard on myself and keep my mind clear and I feel like this year I really worked on that.”
