By Jim Newell

Review Editor

The Dragon is becoming a Bear.

Lake Orion senior pitcher Alexis Aguilar signed her letter of intent to play softball at Mott Community College next year.

Aguilar joins 24 of her classmates who have signed to play college sports. Athletic Director Chris Bell said Lake Orion typically has 20-30 student-athletes every year who go on to play in college.

Mott College Head Coach Rod Studaker and Assistant Coach Tom Weston attended the signing and had scouted Alexis since first hearing about her from a current player last year.

“We had heard and been around and knew that she was a good pitcher. We came down and watched her and she came for a visit on campus. We like her command, she threw in our gym in the late winter,” Studaker said.

As a pitcher, Aguilar is control of much of the game and likes the command – and responsibility. “It’s like a high, I just love it. It’s so much fun.”

Aguilar had visited Mott this winter and made her decision as the season wound down.

“I have friends who go there who say that they really love it and that the coaches are nice. And I wanted to stay somewhere local,” Aguilar said, adding that she’s looking forward to “The experience, making new friends and being able to travel a little bit.”

Studaker said he’s looking for Alexis to have an impact during her first year with the Bears.

We need pitching, you always need good pitching,” Studaker said. “We’re hoping she’ll step right in and be one of your mainstay pitchers. We have a nice freshmen pitcher this year that’s coming back, but we have big hopes for Lexi because we like her speed, we like her command in the strike zone.”

While Aguilar is moving on, she treasures her softball career at Lake Orion.

“I will definitely miss it. I’ve made so many close friends, and the coaches have helped me so much to become a better player,” she said.

Bell organized the signing and commended Aguilar for her hard work and thanked those who helped her achieve this goal.

“It’s a reflection of the hard work they put in over the year,” he said. “A reflection on the athlete, the coaches, the parents and teammates.”