Pirate SS commits to Rogers State

Lady Pirate Carley Conley Commits to Rogers State University

The Lady Pirates once again have reason to celebrate. Sophomore shortstop Carley Conley committed to Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma on Tuesday.

Coming to Independence from Paris, Texas she was named all NJCAA Region Shortstop and nominated for NJCAA All American and will be joining the Hillcats 2013 squad.

Carley Conley was ICC softball coach Barbara Burnett's first signing after taking the helm for the Lady Pirates. Carley set many offensive and defensive records last season as a freshman shortstop and leader for Independence.

Conley who led the KJCCC with a .542 batting average in conference finished the year with a .503 season batting average and ranked 24th in the nation in individual hitting. "We were very fortunate to get Carley as a part of our program and to have an athlete with her ability to anchor our defense at shortstop, which was a big signing for us.

She is a great athlete and a great leader on our team and will be hard to replace. We expect great things out of her this spring and also when she joins the Hillcat Program," commented Burnett.

Carley joins the Rogers State University program that was recently ranked sixth in a Sooner Conference pre-season poll and will be in familiar hands. The Hillcats are headed by Mark Dicus who is in his 4th season there and is transitioning the team from a successful run in the NAIA to NCAA Division 2.

The Lady Pirates faced RSU in the fall season of the past two years and have fared very well under the guidance of Burnett who played high school softball for Coach Dicus in Dewey, Oklahoma. "I am excited to see any of my players move on to the next level but this is particularly exciting to me because not only do I know she will be taken care of there but I know Coach Dicus will continue to push Carley to great success. I loved playing for Coach Dicus and I know she will too", commented Burnett.

Conley will join a top ranked program that is full of great athletes and with the work ethic she displays she should fit in well with the Hillcat program. "We are so excited to get a player of Carley's caliber! She will fill our void at shortstop for next year and we look for her to make a huge impact right away," commented Dicus.

Carley will be taking the field once again for the Lady Pirates as their starting shortstop this spring. Carley stated, "Three years ago I didn't even see myself playing college softball and now I'm about to begin my last season here at ICC and then transfer to play two more years at Rogers State. It's bittersweet and very exciting. I'm ready to begin my next chapter as a Hillcat." You can catch the Lady Pirates at their first home game February 12th against Conners State College at 2 & 4 pm.