Burlington Central's Bell chooses North Dakota

North Dakota may not sound like a place most people would like to spend four years of their life, but to Burlington Central senior softball standout Emily Bell, it's exactly where she wants to be.

Bell recently signed a National Letter of Intent to accept a softball scholarship from the Division I university in Grand Forks.

“Once I got to their campus and met the coach and the players it sold me on everything,” said Bell, a returning all-area first baseman. “Everything just seems right there.”

Bell said she was sold on first-year coach Eric Oakley, who took over the Fighting Sioux program in July after five years as an assistant at Eastern Michigan.

“He's a new coach and I just liked the whole atmosphere of the team,” said Bell, who also considered Division II Winona State. “It looked like a fun, tight-knit team.”

Bell, who has played the last two years with the highly successful Lemont Rockers travel program, hit .392 with 8 homers, 12 doubles and 40 RBI for Burlington Central last season.

“EBell is a great example of hard work, passion and dedication paying off,” said BC coach Cray Allen. “She'll be a great addition to the (North Dakota) program.

Bell, who will study forensic psychology in college, is happy to have the rest of her senior year to enjoy without worrying where she's going to college.

“I am so happy,” she said. “It's such a relief knowing it's all done and I don't have to worry about it.”

North Dakota, which plays in the Great West Conference, was 20-35 last season and advanced to the finals of the conference tournament.