When Chelsea Senior Alise Hale was a little 7-year-old girl she would play catch with her mom Danielle in their front yard and she would be hoping and thinking that softball coaches were hiding in trees and in cars scouting her. Her dream has always been to play collegiate softball ever since then. She practiced constantly, attended clinics every chance she could, watch game film, study plays, and whatever it took to make herself a better player. And on Thursday, November 9th all her hard work and dedication paid off as she signed her national letter of intent to play Division One Softball at Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne.
With her always big smile, she signed her letter surrounded by her friends and family and it was a dream come true for her.
“I would like to thank my parents, coaches, friends, and family for showing me that if I work hard and never give up, my dream can become a reality and it has,” Hale happily exclaimed!
She committed to IPFW because the atmosphere of the school and the size seemed perfect for her. The assistant coach there saw her hit a home run at a fall tournament last year in her first at-bat after she had missed the day before for volleyball. She talked to Hale’s coach after the games and then he gave her the coaches contact information. She went to a prospect camp and then went back for an unofficial visit where they then offered her to play for them.
“I honestly hadn’t been looking into D1 schools,” said Hale. ” I thought that I was only good enough or would prefer a D2 or D3 school and that was where I was looking. Kalamazoo and Albion wanted me to come play there but I didn’t like their softball program very much and the cost was too high for my family. I was looking into Hillsdale College as well but decided that the I wasn’t a fan of the classes I would be required to take.”
Another big reason she chose IPFW is Hale hopes to study Biology and become a doctor someday and their admittance into medical schools after their student’s 4 years was very high and she liked that. She has already been on an official visit and got to meet all the freshmen and fellow commits and realized how much she is looking forward to it all.
“I’m very excited,” Hale said with her big smile.
Hale, who excels at shortstop and third base, also plays volleyball for Chelsea and plays drums in the Marching Band. She also is in link crew, national honors society, and Interact club.
“I’m so thankful to my mom Danielle, dad Alan, sisters Heather, Karlee, Olivia, Allison, and brother Ethan for pushing me and believing in my constant need to do better and always playing softball,” said Hale. “Also, my friend Annie Nichol who’s honestly been my rock through it all by calming me in my moments of stress and panic through this entire process.”
