South Elgin’s Bolin to Culver-Stockton

One of Samantha Bolin’s priorities during the recruiting process was to find a college she could compete for immediate playing time at.

Bolin found that at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo. The South Elgin senior standout signed a National Letter of Intent Friday to accept a scholarship and play for the Wildcats beginning next fall.

“I know I’ll be able to walk in and get playing time right away and I liked that idea,” said Bolin, who will major in physical education.

Bolin will be one the top returning pitchers and players in the Upstate Eight Conference this spring. Last season, she hit .308 with 2 home runs and 29 RBI for the Storm, as well as going 16-12 with 1 save and a 2.72 ERA in the circle. She was the Storm’s workhorse, pitching 177 innings with 114 strikeouts and 5 shutouts. She pitched in 31 of South Elgin’s 35 games, starting 26 of them.

Bolin also considered Carroll College in Wisconsin but in the end, new Culver-Stockton coach Aron Potter won her over.

“She’s a new coach but she played there and she holds a lot of records there,” said Bolin, who was 5-0 with a 2.08 ERA and hit .387 for the Northern Illinois Lightning 18U travel team this fall.

“I wanted to go to a small school, the scholarship’s good and she’s my style coach. I’m excited.”

Culver-Stockton, which is an NAIA Division I school that plays in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, was 7-30 last season and 3-17 in HAAC play.