By Benny Rogers/TVCC Sports Information
The softball team at Trinity Valley Community College is without two players who were both expected to play key roles in the 2018 season.
And with good reason and the full blessings of co-head coaches Kathleen and James Rodriguez.
Sophomores Shannon Klaus and Shelby Craig picked up Division 1 offers just before the holiday break and moved on to continue their education and playing careers. Klaus is now at Lamar University and Craig at Abilene Christian University.
Klaus hit .409 as a freshman, scoring 32 runs, driving in 17 runs and stealing 17 bases. Craig went 3-0 in the circle with 35 strikeouts
“It’s hard losing kids at semester to four-year schools, but when you have good kids and a good program, word gets out quickly,” James Rodriguez said. “It’s these kids’ dream to go on to play at the four-year level and getting a scholarship to go Division 1 is hard to pass up. We wish them and all former Cardinals well.”
Rodriguez also noted three players from last year’s squad are will also be playing at the next level — Lexi Santos (San Jose State University), Kayla Trekell (University of Maryland-Eastern Shores) and Alyssa De Los Santos (Houston Baptist University). At Maryland-Eastern Shores, Trekell will be reunited with former TVCC teammate Breana Florez, who began there in the fall.