BY RICH PALZEWIC
CORRESPONDENT

SUAMICO – The journey has officially begun for Bay Port senior Sydney LaPoint.

In a small ceremony in front of family and friends on Nov. 8, LaPoint, the reigning Fox River Classic Conference softball player of the year, signed her national letter of intent to play collegiately at St. Cloud State University (SCSU).

“I’m glad it’s finally done,” LaPoint said. “It feels really good to have a set place where I’m going. It takes the pressure off a little bit and now I can concentrate on just having a good year.

“The big thing was just the coaches (at SCSU) and knowing what I would have for the next four years. I get to make that decision, so it’s nice knowing that I will be playing for coaches that I really like.”

After the Pirates won the conference title after her junior season with a 16-2 record, LaPoint was selected first-team and co-player of the year in the FRCC. She hit .459 in conference at the plate and was 16-2 on the mound in her 114 innings of work. For the season, she struck out 255, walked just 14 and had a paltry 1.03 earned-run average. LaPoint is just 21 strikeouts away from 500 career.

She had plenty of other colleges seeking her right arm, but in the end, she chose the Division II Huskies over all the rest.

“I haven’t specifically talked to them about it all (in detail), but it looks like I will probably be playing my freshman year (and not redshirting),” added LaPoint, who throws in the lower 60s, but is hoping to improve that a few miles per hour before getting to SCSU. “I will be pitching and hitting. I’m expecting to put in some hard work and being ready for that freshman year.”

But first LaPoint will hope to help the Pirates win another FRCC title next spring and make a deep run into the WIAA state playoffs

2017 season

Pitching: 20-5 record, 157 IP, 578 AB, 255 K, 14 BB, 1.03 ERA (0.80 conference), opponent’s batting average = 0.135
Batting: .407 average (.459 conf.), 31 RBI, 40% ON-BASE

2016 season

Pitching: 18-8, 148 IP, 581 AB, 188 K, 13 BB, 1.28 ERA (1.06 conf.), OPP B/AVG = 0.148
Batting: .369, 13 RBI, 38% ON-BASE

2015 season

Pitching: 4-0, 24 IP, 36 K, 5 BB, 1.68 ERA
Batting .324, .400 conference