The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Mentor High senior commits to BG
Peyton Dolejs’ softball future is set, but that doesn’t mean she’s ready to close the book on her high school career.
The softball future of Peyton Dolejs has been paved. But that doesn’t mean the senior at Mentor is ready to close the book on her high school career.
A four-year starter for the Cardinals, Dolejs has signed a national letter of intent to play college softball at Bowling Green. It’s a future she’s excited about starting. But not before playing at least one more game for her high school.
The March 30 announcement by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine that schools would remain closed through May 1 to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, has put that in peril. But Dolejs hopes.
“We’ve been working so hard as a team, and I’ve been working three years to get to this (senior) season,” Dolejs said. “The new field is amazing. Obviously we want a season. But honestly, I would be happy with one more game to play with my teammates. One more game is all I can ask for.”
One more game would put an emphatic exclamation point on what has been a stellar and decorated career at Mentor for Dolejs.
She is a three-time NewsHerald all-star, twice being named first team.
As a sophomore, she hit. 459 with 30 runs scored. Then as a junior, she hit .580 with 28 RBI and 35 runs scored.
Dolejs has only struck out eight times in the past two years combined.
And she did it all while being the ultimate Swiss Army knife of a player, playing pretty much every position from pitcher to infield to outfield.
“I’ve played most of them,” Dolejs said with a laugh. “My freshman year I started out in center, but did right and left, too. My junior year, I was usually at second or shortstop, but I pitched, too.”
Pitched very successfully, it should be noted.
While Leah Temple and Caitlyn Dems were the topline starters — and will be again this spring, if the season does take place — Dolejs went 4-0 in her pitching appearances.
“I think it’s cool to be able to play so many different positions,” Dolejs said. “Not many people can say
they can honestly play more than a few positions.
“I feel like my favorite position is second base. I love being on the mound because I like being in control of the game, but I know that’s not where I’ll be at college.”
At Bowling Green, Dolejs will likely be registered as “utility,” because of her versatility. That’s fine with her.
The most important thing to her is she’s got a college scholarship to play a sport she has loved since she was a little kid.
Where she plays on the field isn’t as important as being able to play — period — while getting her degree in actuarial science.
“I committed to Bowling Green the summer going into my sophomore year,”
Dolejs said. “I just loved the coaches and the atmosphere.”
She also considered Kent State and Akron.
“But I felt Bowling Green was the best fit for me,” Dolejs said. “Everyone there is there for the right reasons. I wanted to go somewhere that felt like a second home, and Bowling Green was that.”