Marysville High School graduate Leah Potter signs to play softball at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. She is pictured with MVNU assistant coach Mark Pratt. (Photo submitted)
First choice Urbana closed its doors
Leah Potter, a 2020 Marysville High School graduate and softball player, was all set on her future plans a couple of months ago.
Sure, her senior season was completely wiped out because of COVID-19.
She was, however, looking forward to continuing her education and playing softball at Urbana University.
The brakes, though, came screeching to a halt on that earlier this spring when officials from Urbana announced the school would close its doors at the end of the semester.
That left Potter scrambling to find a new home for her academics and softball.
She recently landed on her feet when she signed a letter of intent with Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
“When I heard that Urbana was closing, I began to send e-mails to different college coaches,” said Potter, who was the Lady Monarchs’ starting third baseman. “Coach (MHS’ Jennifer) Segner and my travel ball coach (former Jonathan Alder assistant coach Craig Thompson) also sent me some options to explore.”
Potter said she had looked into Otterbein, Muskingum, Wilmington and Ohio Wesleyan, along with Mount Vernon Nazarene.
Potter was contacted by MVNU assistant coach Mark Pratt.
From there, a mutual interest developed.
“Mount Vernon Nazarene is a very good fit for me,” said Potter.
The MHS graduate said the fact Mount Vernon Nazarene is a Christian school is very appealing to her.
Potter has participated in church youth groups for several years.
A bit of financial help also came into play.
“They will be able to offer me $5,000 per year,” she said. “That will be a big help.”
Potter played third base during the 2019 campaign when the Lady Monarchs captured championship honors in the Ohio Capital Conference Central Division.
She hit .400 during division contests with five extra-base hits.
It really hasn’t been established what position Potter will play on the collegiate level.
“Mount Vernon Nazarene graduated a third baseman and catcher from the class of 2020,” she said. “There is also the possibility of playing at times as a backup shortstop.
“Right now, they plan on putting me at any spot that needs to be filled.”
Although Potter spent her varsity high school career at the hot corner, she has extensive experience as a catcher.
“I never caught for our high school team because they needed me more at third base,” she said. “I’ve been a catcher during my summer ball career.”
While Potter, who will study elementary education, is happy to have landed at Mount Vernon Nazarene, she is going to miss playing with a couple of former MHS teammates.
Former Marysville catcher Aggie Livingston saw brief action earlier in the spring with Urbana’s softball squad before the coronavirus shut down all sports.
Livingston’s sister Jewely, a pitcher and shortstop, was going to join her and Potter at Urbana.
The Livingston sisters have reportedly decided to play at Wilmington College.
“I was really excited about the idea of playing on the same college team as Aggie and Jewely,” said Potter. “I knew they were still going to play on the same college team.”