Former Outlaw will play softball at Boise State

Cassidy Edwards has been a Panther, an Outlaw, a Cougar, and she's going to be a Bronco.

But what's a nickname? In this case, it is a dream come true for Edwards.

"I am extremely blessed and beyond excited for this opportunity," said Edwards. "It all still seems so unreal. It has always been a dream to go and play Division 1 softball and now the dream is coming true."

Everywhere she has played softball, Edwards has made an impact. When she was a Redmond Panther, she earned a starting spot as a freshman. By the time she finished her junior year, she had earned All-State honors.

Edwards spent her senior year at Sisters High School and made an immediate impact. She set several school records, including strikeouts in a single season. She played so well at SHS that she earned a dual softball-basketball scholarship at Clackamas Community College where she was an All-Star in basketball and a two-time All-American in softball.

For those teams she has played every position on the field. When a coach asks Edwards, "Where do you play?" she answers, "Anywhere you want me to play."

At Division 1 Boise State, a member of the Mountain West Conference, Edwards isn't sure what to expect.

"I'm not positive what to expect, coming in as a transfer, but I know it is a goal of mine to step into the program and make an impact right away," said Edwards. "I will move back towards a utility, and find time in the middles, some outfield, and might even be behind the dish for the first time in a few years."

When Bronco Coach Cindy Ball was scouting Edwards at the Northwest Athletic Conference's Softball Championship, she asked Edwards' former pitching coach, Tom Mauldin, what her strength was.

"She's one of the most versatile players you'll see," he told Ball. "She might end up being your shortstop, or center fielder, or at second or your catcher. There are pitchers here (at the tournament) who throw harder, batters who hit for more power and average, but Edwards is the best all-around player here. Her biggest strength is her awareness. She has a very high softball I.Q."

At that moment, with Ball watching intently, Edwards singled and as she rounded first base, she noticed the (Douglas College) outfielder coming up slowly with the ball. At that instance, the former Outlaw sprinted and dove safely head-first into second base.

Ball looked at Mauldin smiling and said, "How's that for timing?"

A month later, she is a Bronco. It didn't take a month for Edwards to decide that BSU was for her.

"My visit to Boise was hands-down the deciding factor," she said. "I knew when I got the opportunity it was going to be a tough decision because it was always a goal of mine to play Division 1 softball, but also a goal to make sure that the school was the best fit for me. The campus was beautiful and I knew as soon as we completed my tour, it was where I wanted to finish my career.

"There were a number of things that helped me decide," she added. "The campus was a huge factor for me, it was amazing and I fell in love with it. The river on the back side of the school is going to be one of my favorite spots, I already know. Also, I really enjoyed the coaches, they were all awesome."

Unlike her previous schools, at BSU she will play only softball. Regardless of jersey color, she was an All-Star cager at her other three stops.

"I will only be playing softball. It will definitely be a change to focus on one sport, but I'm excited to see what will happen when all of my energy and efforts are put towards softball.

"I am going to miss basketball so much. Especially after the last two years I had at CCC," added Edwards. "The coaches I played for were beyond amazing and made my experience 100 times better. It's going to be hard watching games and being in the seats."

Edwards was named the NWAC Southern Division Player of the Year after batting .407 and recording an 18-5 pitching record with a 2.39 ERA and leading the Cougars to the Southern title and a 35-10 record.

Edwards is the second Outlaw to sign a D1 softball scholarship. Dara Kosanke, also an NWAC All-American and East Division Player of the Year, played two seasons for Utah Valley University.

Asked what her favorite moments were at CCC, she said. "It's hard to pick just one."

"I think finishing top three in the NWAC both seasons in softball was a pretty great moment. Throwing two shutouts at the tournament was also great, too. I remember sitting next to my coach Jess (Buel) at the NWAC banquet, and as they announced the Player the Year we both looked at each other and I was just as surprised as she was (she wasn't aware that I received the award) and that was a pretty cool moment for us as a player and coach.

"The experiences I had and the memories I made are irreplaceable. I couldn't have asked for a better support system at CCC," said Edwards, the daughter of Jess Edwards and Tammy Baker.

Edwards said signing with BSU makes the countless hours of preparing and travel worth it all.

"This makes the hours and hours beyond worth it," she said. "Looking back on all the summer tournaments, practices in the gym, pitching lessons ... it makes it all a little sweeter knowing that everything I worked for is paying off.

"I want to thank my parents for the weekends upon weekends spent watching games. Even on Father's Day and Mother's Day they were out watching softball," she said. "The countless hours my dad spent with me on the field are ones that I will forever cherish. My parents have been my biggest support system and I owe it all to them."

What's in a nickname? How about being a D1 softball player.

"It is a dream come true," she said.

Edwards will begin her Bronco career in late August.