Vikings' power hitter Ferguson commits to Valpo

WILLOW WOOD — Free education, yes. Free pass to a starting position, no.

Symmes Valley Lady Vikings’ power-hitting junior first baseman Marley Ferguson has a guarantee about payment on her college education, but she knows there is no guarantee she will be handed a starting position on the Valparaiso Beacons softball team after making a verbal commitment.

“I’m just going to have to put a lot of work into my spot. Yes, they like me and want me to come there, but they also have a full team of people who can hit like me,” said Ferguson.

“I’m not going to be as unique as I am here at Symmes Valley. I’m going to have to earn my spot and do just as well there as I did here.”

Last season, the Lady Vikings went 27-3, won the Southern Ohio Conference and reached the regional finals

Ferguson had a banner year last season as she batted .594 with 6 home runs and 54 runs batted in.

The 6 home runs last season came on the heels of her freshman year when she belted 10 home runs.

Ferguson began playing softball as young as 8-years old when she began playing travel ball and she has been strictly a softball player for several years.

She hurt her knee playing basketball a few years ago and decided that once she healed, she wasn’t going to risk any more injuries that could derail her softball career.

“I started when I was really young and I haven’t stopped and I’m still playing now,” said Ferguson.

Ferguson said the Beacons plan to play her in the infield, preferably one of the corner spots of first base or third base.

“They want to make sure I can hit. That’s what they looked at me for,” said Ferguson. “When I get there, they’ll see where I’m comfortable with the team.”

Having signed with Valparaiso, Ferguson knows that stepping up from high school and travel ball to Division 1 will take a lot of work on her part.

“I’m really excited to play at that level. Shawnee State was an opportunity to stay near your home,” said Ferguson.

“Playing at Division 1is a whole new experience, so I told myself I’m going to go out there and try it and see what this level is like and see how well I compete with that level of softball.”

Valparaiso Beacons are Division 1 and a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.

Ferguson had talks with several Division 2 programs as well as Shawnee State before settling on Valparaiso.“I liked Shawnee. I went to visit there,” said Ferguson. “Valparaiso stuck out for me the most and I saw what their education was like and I liked that a lot.

“I prioritized what I want to do in my future and softball is just a plus to that. Valparaiso offered me the best of that and I appreciated that.”

Ferguson plans to major in nursing and become a CNRA and she said Valparaiso was willing to work with her to ensure she could do her nursing and play softball.