By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, Ore.–  It’s a crazy moment for West Salem’s Mia Zachary.  The hours of work she put in going back three-or-so years now to get to this point with her signing her Letter of Intent to play softball at St. Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington has been incredible to say the least.

Sitting in the Titan Room up by the main office Thursday afternoon, packed room, she put pen to paper knowing that her softball career will be continuing beyond this season.

“It’s crazy to me.  I was told in so many years of my life that I wasn’t going to make it.  I wasn’t going to be doing anything because I was too weak, too small…I wasn’t good enough.  I’ve worked all of Covid to where I am now, I’ve worked so hard to where I am now.  I’m proud of myself and I’m so thankful for the help I’ve had along the way.  The coaches, family, etc,” described Zachary.

Zachary will be returning to  the outfield and admits that the last two seasons, going back to her junior year, of playing Catcher has been a nice break from playing the outfield.  Last season was the first time since she was nine-ten years old that she had played the position and got second-team All-Mountain Valley Conference there as a junior.after getting first-team infielder during the Covid-Shortened season in the Spring of 2021.

Now in the home-stretch of her High School career, Zachary is looking to help mentor those younger than her while staying positive and having fun as West Salem’s 7-8 on the year and 3-3 in Central Valley Conference play.

“I’m going to be enjoying every little moment because it’s going by really fast,” starts Zachary.  “I’m going to be with my team and my girls and have a good couple of weeks.”

West Salem’s off until Tuesday where they’ll travel to play McNary before hosting North Salem Wednesday and wrap up next week going to South Salem next Friday.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald