Colony standout headed to Northern State

PALMER — During her freshman year at Colony High School, Michelle Stratton set her sights on the opportunity to play softball at the college level.

Now four years later, Stratton is seeing that goal become a reality.

On Wednesday, the Colony standout signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Northern State University (S.D.) softball team next season.

“This is a dream come true,” Stratton said during a small gathering in the CHS library that included friends, family and teammates. “My freshman year I decided it was my goal.”

Stratton considered a handful of programs before making the Aberdeen, S.D., school her choice. Among the other choices were junior colleges in South Carolina and Minnesota. Stratton also looked into several of the other programs in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, the league Northern State competes in.

But ultimately, Stratton chose Northern State.

There are a few reasons why Stratton decided to become a part of the Wolves softball program, she said.

Stratton said she appreciates the philosophies maintained by the coaching staff, and she has the opportunity to play as an underclassman.

“They said if I work hard, they plan on starting me right away if I earn a position,” Stratton said.

Stratton also feels Northern State is on the verge of building a winning program in Aberdeen, and being a part of that is attractive.

Stratton was a standout during her time with the Colony softball program. Seeing significant time at both third base and on the pitchers mound, Stratton was named a team captain and her team’s MVP.

In 23 games as a senior, Stratton posted a .509 batting average with five doubles, a triple and three home runs. She scored 22 runs and drove in 33.

As a pitcher, Stratton finished with five wins and fanned 55 hitters in 59.20 innings.

At third base she maintained a .947 fielding percentage.

Although she enjoyed tremendous individual success and helped the Knights advance to the state tournament, Stratton said playing competitive softball during the summer was a big factor in her ability to score the opportunity to play college softball.

“Last year I started going out to tournaments and coaches started looking at me,” Stratton said.

In the summer of 2006, Stratton led her U-16 season to an undefeated season and a state championship. She was a team captain of that squad and the MVP of the state championship game.

In 16 summer games, Stratton hit .516 and drove in 21 runs. During the state tournament, she hit .700 at the plate and didn’t allow an earned run during 11 innings of work.

Stratton also stood out on the Alaska North Stars U-18 squad, and helped that team finish fourth in the Triple Crown Tourney in Park City, Utah.

Stratton, who was recruited to play third base for the Fairbanks-based North Stars, was named an all-star at the Triple Crown Tourney.

Stratton expects to play third base and pitch at Northern State. She also has potential to be the team’s closer, a role she values.

“I like closing a lot,” Stratton said. “Just coming in and putting an end, kind of like an exclamation point, on the game.”

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.