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Creston’s Sara Keeler made it official Thursday morning, signing her letter of intent to continue her softball career at Des Moines Area Community College next fall.
The process of furthering her career was easy, said Keeler.
“DMACC got me first. I have a lot of respect for (head coach Bob Lugouri) and the other coaches because I have been going to their camps since I was in fifth or sixth grade,” said Keeler. “Simpson talked to me, but I just knew DMACC was right because of the way the coaching staff is and the players there. They just all seemed nice and it was a good atmosphere.”
Creston softball head coach Mike McCabe had nothing but good things to say about his leadoff hitter, noting her signing is a testament to her hard work she’s put in on the field during the season and in the gym in the offseason.
“I’m excited for her,” said McCabe. “I’m happy for her and it’s been a dream for her, growing up to play college softball. (She) loves softball, that’s her sport. ... She’s really earned everything and I’m very proud of her. She’s someone who dedicated herself to the weight room and made herself a really good athlete.”
Hearing the words and acknowledgment of her hard work form her current coach put a smile on Keeler’s face.
“It feels very good (to hear that) because he pushes us very hard in practice,” said Keeler. “We don’t mess around or slack off. We make sure we’re doing what we’re supposed to do and if we mess up he helps us. ... It helps that we have a coach that backs us up.”
While many of her teammates are multi-sport athletes, Keeler focuses only on softball, playing for a travel club which has helped her at great lengths to improve her game while others are out of season.
“Right now I’m not in fall ball, but I do hitting every week. ... I have a break from the games (now), but not a break from hitting and fielding,” said Keeler.
“She’d play year round if there wasn’t snow on the ground,” added McCabe.
The ability to continue at the next level is something Keeler has had her sights set on for quite some time, citing former and current teammates as influences and motivators to take it to the next level.
“I always wanted to be like Madison Frain and be a pitcher, but even though I’m not a pitcher I’m still (getting to the next level),” said Keeler.
Along with the former Panther turned South Dakota State pitcher, Keeler also cited former assistant softball coach (now Knoxville head coach) Carla Smith, current University of Nebraska-Omaha and former Creston Panther star Natalie Mostek and former teammate turned Southwestern outfielder Saige Rice as more influences to her playing career.
In her junior season, Keeler was the catalyst for the Panther offense. She hit a slash line of .449/.504/.644 (batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage) out of primarily the leadoff spot in the batting order.
She homered once and drove in 23 RBIs. She hit 18 doubles, tying for second in Class 3A. Keeler was also unanimously voted to the Hawkeye 10 all-conference first team, joining teammate and 3-hole hitter Gracie Hagle on the first team.
The DMACC Bears were 52-8 with an ICCAC conference record of 26-2 in 2019. The Bears won the Region XI tournament bracket in Pod A. The Bears worked their way through the NJCAA Div. II playoffs, but fell short of the Div. II championship. They finished the 2019 season as the No. 2 team in the country.