St. Charles North's Cihlar chooses Ball State

When given a choice between waiting for a slightly bigger college to offer or taking what was on the table, St. Charles North junior Loren Cihlar didn't think twice.

As fast as she runs downs balls in the outfield or flies to first base on an infield hit, Cihlar accepted a scholarship to play softball at Ball State in Muncie, Ind.

Cihlar made her decision Thursday after taking an unofficial visit in September.

"I really wanted to go to Louisville and Purdue was an option," Cihlar said. "They (Louisville) weren't going to recruit me until someone else committed or didn't commit.

"Ball State already said I would be a starter hitting in the 2 spot. I felt like they wanted me more."

The first time Cihlar visited the campus, in an exposure tournament, she wasn't blown away, But when she returned for her visit the coaches and campus helped her decide it was the college for her.

"It was mostly the campus and I really liked the coach and the vibe when I got there," Cihlar said. "I started talking to the coach and ended up liking it a lot."

Cihlar, who plays travel softball with the Wasco Diamonds, has been a two-year varsity starter at St. Charles North and an all-conference and academic all-conference selection.

Not bad for someone who wasn't sure it was the sport for her when she first started with the Diamonds seven years ago.

"Not at all," Cihlar said of thinking she's one day have a Division I scholarship.

"When I was little I was really bad. Then (a couple years later) we were awesome and went to nationals and finished 20th. We were super good and that's when I started getting really serious, playing competitively."

Cihlar plans on majoring in psychology, though she has two years at St. Charles North to look forward to first.

"It's a good feeling," Cihlar said. "I'm really excited about it and I think it's a really good fit."