Burlington grad Scheffler picks McKendree

Burlington Central graduate and Elgin Community College sophomore Ashley Scheffler will continue her softball career at McKendree University in downstate Lebanon.

Scheffler, who helped the Rockets to third place in the 2009 Class 3A state high school tournament, earned a near full scholarship at McKendree, which is an NAIA school now but will become an NCAA Division II school in the fall of 2013.

“It’s a very nice campus, the people are really nice and I liked the coach a lot,” said Scheffler, who added that she is considering studying criminal justice.

McKendree, coached by Evelyn Bean, is also home to South Elgin graduate Catie Stredde, now a sophomore softball player at the school.

“Catie said she really likes it there and that made me look into it,” Scheffler said. “They don’t carry a big roster so that makes me feel like I can play there and not sit on the bench with a bunch of other girls.”

Scheffler, a two-time Daily Herald All-Area selection, had a career .374 batting average at Burlington Central, where the Rockets were 91-13 in her three varsity seasons. She had 74 RBI and 44 stolen bases in her high school career.

At ECC last season, Scheffler hit .440 with 7 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs and 14 RBI as well as a .484 on-base percentage. She was named first team all-Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference and all-Region IV, Division II, District A first team.

McKendree was 26-21 last season.

ECC cross country: Four members of the ECC cross country team will compete in the NJCAA National Championship on Saturday, Nov. 12 in Hobbs, N.M. CJ Houlios and Christina Luptak will run in the women’s meet while Dan Guimon and Ryan Saylor will compete for the Spartans in the men’s meet. Houlis was third at the Region IV meet and Luptak fourth, earning them each all-region honors.