Wednesday November 9, 2016 marked signing day for thousands of high school senior softball players. Across the country, families, coaches, athletic directors, principals, friends and other members of the athletes support system gathered at the athletes respected high schools to watch their seniors sign their National Letters of Intent. Once the signing is complete, it’s official. That athlete will be playing on a college softball team the upcoming fall.
It’s a dream set out by many, to play at the college level one day. We sat down with Erin Poepping, a senior pitcher who signed to play at East Carolina University starting in the fall of 2018, and who currently plays for the 18U Lady Lightning Gold Midwest.
When asked what signing day meant for her, Erin’s face immediately lit up.
“I have dreamed of and have been working towards this day for my whole life.”
Surrounded by her family, pitching coach, and a few close friends, Erin signed the next four years of her life away at her high school, Totino-Grace in Fridley, Minnesota.
“It meant the world to me that my family and pitching coach could be there. They have been through everything softball with me for my whole career. Their continued love and support means the world to me. Even though it was my name on the dotted line, I felt as though we all signed our names together.”
There were some nerves leading up to signing day, because until her name was etched into the papers, anything could have happened. A verbal commitment isn’t official.
“It feels like a giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I can now shift my focus back to getting myself ready for our last few upcoming fall tournaments and look ahead to my final high school and summer season.”
Commitment and hard work over the past 10+ years got Erin to where she is today.
“My advice to young girls who hope to be in my shoes one day is to put in the time, the effort, and practice. Practice makes perfect, and if you put in the work you will be rewarded on signing day when you’re a senior.”
