McGahuey verbals to D-1 school

Christa McGahuey took a trip to Michigan two weeks ago and came away with a full-ride softball scholarship to the University of Detroit-Mercy.

McGahuey has verbally committed to the small Division 1 university on the outskirts of Detroit. She will sign her national letter of intent in November. The verbal commitment is non-binding for either party.

The move certainly takes a lot of pressure off the 5-foot-11 McGahuey, who also plays volleyball for Carson. With her future locked up for the next four years, she can go out and have a relaxed senior season for coach Scott Vickrey.

McGahuey said the Detroit school was he first one she visted. She had some interest from University of Maine, Simpson College in Redding, Doane College in Nebraska and a school in the Bay Area.

"It (the campius) was really nice," McGahuey said earlier this week. "The coaching staff was really nice and so were the girls on the team that I met."

McGahuey, who plays club ball for Nevada Lightning 94, said she became aware of Detrot-Mercy's interest at a summer showcase event in Colorado.

"She (Sunny Jones, Mercy coach) was watching me pitch (during a clinic)," McGahuey said. "I was throwing around 60. I think they're looking at me as a pitcher, but I really don't care where they put me, I just want to play."

Rollie Scarselli, her summer coach, said he actually changed his pitching rotation for the tournament.

"We had an 8 a.m. game and their coach showed up, and I didn't have Christa pitching, but I made a switch because there were other players she wanted to watch," Scarselli said. "She threw well."

Scarselli said that Detroit-Mercy is looking at McGahuey primarily as apitcher, but he also said that after watching the coach watched her hit that

she could be a two-way player.

"She is a heck of a hitter, a good pitcher and she's not bad at first base

or in the outfield." Scarselli said. "She's imprtoved every year. I think

she'll dofine. I don't see how they can keep her bat out of the lineup. I

think she could be doing both."

Detrot-Mercy, a member of the Horizon Conference, went 7-37 last season and

had just one player hit over .300. The the ERA was over six runs a game.

Those are two areas where McGahuey could definitely help.

It's a program clearly rebuilding. Jones is in just her third season as coach, and McGahuey said the team is loaded with underclassmen. That works well for McGahuey, who could come right in and get significant playing time as a freshman.

"They are trying to build it up," said McGahuey.

McGahuey is currently playing volleyball and club softball. She plans to continue to do both.

"I don't let volleyball intefere with (fall) softball," McGahuey said. "I'm not the only one that plays two sports. When we play tournaments in the fall there are girls who can't make it because they are doing other sports. Right now, volleyball is first. After volleyball is over, softball comes first."

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Chris Hall is trying to put together a full-contact alumni football game between Carson and Douglas high schools next month.

Hall estimates that each team would need 40 players.

If you or someone you know is interested in putting on the pads one more time, please go to http://www.gridironalumni.com to register. Other area teams are welcome to register and play as well. If you have any questions, please call Hall at (530) 410-6396.