November 23 , 2023 The Beacon • 25

By Jen Jones

River View High School senior Raelee McPeak recently signed her letter of intent to play softball at Malone University .

McPeak started playing softball when she was

6 years old . “ I always looked up to my brother Evan , who played baseball . He influenced me to start playing softball , and I was in love with it ever since ,” she said .

McPeak ’ s mom Mindy said Raelee started playing travel softball when

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River View High School senior Raelee McPeak recently signed her letter of intent to play softball at Malone University . Pictured are her dad Shawn , Raelee , her mom Mindy , and her sister Kayla and brother Evan in the back . she was 10 .

“ It was then she said she wanted to start varsity her freshman year , and she ’ s worked hard and made that happen ,” Mindy said . “ Softball has helped her learn to be a leader , set goals and to work to achieve them .”

Raelee McPeak said , “ What I love about softball is the competition . I love softball because it has taught me that making mistakes is part of life and you have to move on from them . Softball has taught me that no matter how hard everything in your life could be at that very moment , you can easily forget as soon as you reach the diamond . Softball has taught me that strength and skill are nothing without mental strength .”

Raelee McPeak said when she was looking at colleges , her main focus was her studies , but she really wanted to play softball too .

“ Coach Hite was the best when it came to everything I could ever want in a coach . Malone was not only for the athletics , but for the academic too . I ’ m going to study zoology along with

psychology to eventually study animal behavior science ,” she said .

She is thankful for her softball coach at River View . “ Mr . Infante has been there since the beginning and all throughout high school . He is the reason I love softball ,” she said .

Raelee McPeak has

already started her college studies as a student at Zane State College , and she works at Rise and Shine Market in Warsaw .

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Coshocton native Korbyn Haley did something never before seen in the 173-year history of Heidelberg University . The Heidelberg football team closed out the 2023 campaign with a 31-17 win over Capital University on Senior Day . In the process Haley set a school record and tied an NCAA Division Ill record with two kickoff returns for touchdowns .

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