Cassie Carlson

Senior Cassie Carlson knew she wanted to play softball for Division I Youngstown State University as soon as she visited the campus for the first time as a sophomore.

“When I went to see the campus, I didn’t want to leave. I loved it right away, and after meeting the coach and some of the girls, I knew that was where I wanted to go,” Carlson said.

Carlson, who signed her national letter of intent to play softball for Youngstown State on a scholarship on Monday, said she knew she wanted to play softball at the collegiate level after she started playing for a travel team at age 10.

“When I started playing travel, I understood that I wanted to play in college, so that became a conversation I had with my parents and they knew my goals,” Carlson said.

Carlson said Monday’s signing was a big moment for both her.

“I was really happy my softball team came to support me. It was also a really big moment for my family because we have been through so much together through the years, and it was really cool to have this moment,” Carlson said.