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ALBIA — The decision has been made. The future is now set.
Grace Pence could only describe signing her college of letter of intent as 'a relief.' The Albia senior, coming off her best season in the pitching circle leading the Lady Dees to a third-place finish in the Class 3A state softball tournament, signed with Kirkwood Community College joining a program that qualified for the NJCAA Division II National Tournament for the 10th consecutive season this past spring.
"It was a big process and a long journey," Pence said. "It's really exciting to find the place for me."
Pence earned first-team all-state honors from the Iowa Girls Coaches Association this past summer, posting a 24-3 record while finishing fifth in the state with 274 strikeouts in 164 2/3 innings. The Albia senior was one of just 10 pitchers in the state to post a ERA below one run an inning, finishing ninth overall in the state with a 0.98 ERA and a 0.77 WHIP.
"I definitely feel like last year was definitely a big jump for me," Pence said. "I feel like I kind of also took on a little bit of a leadership role. I really didn't know what to expect in my first year with the team and how to handle certain situations. Last year, I felt like I was able to get through those hard spots in games and really made an improvement."
Albia head softball coach Larry Achenbach, who has overseen the development of several all-state pitchers for the Lady Dees over the past two decades, talked about the development of Pence who lowered her ERA from 2.00 in 26 starts going 15-9 with 196 strikeouts over 157 1/3 innings as a sophomore.
"It's always special as a head coach when you see someone's hard work pay off and Grace has really put in the hard work," Achenbach said. "I know that Grace is going to do some amazing things at Kirkwood. When you see a pitcher compete at a young age, you know that there is a lot of work ahead. Grace has put in the work to really improve. She made great strides last year. She's just kept getting better and, I thought, that last year she become very dominant."
Kirkwood is coming off a 50-18 season with a pitching staff that posted a 3.05 ERA with three sophomores making 58 of the team's 68 starts this past spring. Besides a chance to make an immediate impact with the Eagles, the overall feel of the program made the difference in Pence making her choice.
"I felt like, when I went on my visit, that I knew Kirkwood was the place for me," Pence said. "They have great coaches. I took a tour with a player on the team. They're very straightforward and honest when I asked all my questions. I just felt like it was the right place for me."
With her college choice made, Pence can now focus on trying to lead the Albia softball team to the program's second-ever state championship this upcoming summer. Albia loses just one senior, Avery Halstead, giving the Lady Dees plenty of experience back to make a run at competing for a berth in what will be the first-ever double-elimination state softball tournament.
"I definitely feel like it's an expectation to make it to state," Pence said. "It was an experience for all of us to be into those tournament games last year. I know we're all really hoping to get to that state championship game."
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Grace Pence could only describe signing her college of letter of intent as 'a relief.' The Albia senior, coming off her best season in the pitching circle leading the Lady Dees to a third-place finish in the Class 3A state softball tournament, signed with Kirkwood Community College joining a program that qualified for the NJCAA Division II National Tournament for the 10th consecutive season this past spring.
"It was a big process and a long journey," Pence said. "It's really exciting to find the place for me."
Pence earned first-team all-state honors from the Iowa Girls Coaches Association this past summer, posting a 24-3 record while finishing fifth in the state with 274 strikeouts in 164 2/3 innings. The Albia senior was one of just 10 pitchers in the state to post a ERA below one run an inning, finishing ninth overall in the state with a 0.98 ERA and a 0.77 WHIP.
"I definitely feel like last year was definitely a big jump for me," Pence said. "I feel like I kind of also took on a little bit of a leadership role. I really didn't know what to expect in my first year with the team and how to handle certain situations. Last year, I felt like I was able to get through those hard spots in games and really made an improvement."
Albia head softball coach Larry Achenbach, who has overseen the development of several all-state pitchers for the Lady Dees over the past two decades, talked about the development of Pence who lowered her ERA from 2.00 in 26 starts going 15-9 with 196 strikeouts over 157 1/3 innings as a sophomore.
"It's always special as a head coach when you see someone's hard work pay off and Grace has really put in the hard work," Achenbach said. "I know that Grace is going to do some amazing things at Kirkwood. When you see a pitcher compete at a young age, you know that there is a lot of work ahead. Grace has put in the work to really improve. She made great strides last year. She's just kept getting better and, I thought, that last year she become very dominant."
Kirkwood is coming off a 50-18 season with a pitching staff that posted a 3.05 ERA with three sophomores making 58 of the team's 68 starts this past spring. Besides a chance to make an immediate impact with the Eagles, the overall feel of the program made the difference in Pence making her choice.
"I felt like, when I went on my visit, that I knew Kirkwood was the place for me," Pence said. "They have great coaches. I took a tour with a player on the team. They're very straightforward and honest when I asked all my questions. I just felt like it was the right place for me."
With her college choice made, Pence can now focus on trying to lead the Albia softball team to the program's second-ever state championship this upcoming summer. Albia loses just one senior, Avery Halstead, giving the Lady Dees plenty of experience back to make a run at competing for a berth in what will be the first-ever double-elimination state softball tournament.
"I definitely feel like it's an expectation to make it to state," Pence said. "It was an experience for all of us to be into those tournament games last year. I know we're all really hoping to get to that state championship game."
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