Mitchell verbals to Mizzou

Posted July 25, 2016 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler Staff Writer

Miah Mitchell is known for batting with the ferocity of a tiger. Now, she's going to become one.

Mitchell recently verballed to the University of Missouri for softball, becoming the latest Chester athlete to commit to play Division I athletics.

She will eventually join a Tigers program that finished 42-16 last season and was ranked 15th in the country.

"It's a really good school, it's close to home, the people are really nice, I like the staff and the school," Mitchell said. "It's my dream school and the school I've wanted to go to."

As a sophomore, Mitchell batted .516 for the Lady Yellow Jackets in 2016 with 10 home runs and 33 RBIs, striking out only once in 93 at-bats.

She also stole 19 bases and finished with 46 runs scored.

"She's worked very hard to accomplish this goal," said Chester coach Tracy Colvis. "She puts in the time and effort to be a better player and I'm proud she's achieved her goal."

In June, Mitchell - along with teammates Logan Colvis and Alyssa Keith - were named to the Illinois Coaches Association All-State teams.

Mitchell earned a second-team selection, while Colvis and Keith got third team nods.

"Being with the team for so long and playing with those girls for so long, we do get along so well," Mitchell said of her teammates. "We click very well together and you can tell when we play."

Colvis and Mitchell were also named to the Black Diamond Conference West Division's All-Conference first team, while Keith earned a second team selection.

Chester finished 21-5 last season, shattering the 1992 record of 15 wins. The Lady Yellow Jackets lose only one senior, outfielder Jenna Wahl, to graduation.

"It relieves some of the pressure for her and lets her do what she does best," Coach Colvis said of the verbal commitment. "We need to work on some outfield skills, but offensively, I don't think there's a better hitter than Miah Mitchell.

"Her bat speed is just amazing."

Among her goals for the 2017 season, Mitchell said she wants to work on her defense and be a good teammate. She is striving toward becoming a radiologist technician in the future.

"I'm very, very grateful that I have been given this opportunity and have been very lucky," she said.

Mitchell joins SIU football's Jordan Berner as recent Chester athletes to verbally commit to a Division I school.

"It puts us on the map that we've got somebody from Chester that can play softball at a NCAA Division I school," Coach Colvis said. "It's a very big accomplishment for her, she should be proud of herself."

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