Lakers sign Alpena catcher

SAULT STE. MARIE - Alpena all-state catcher Nikki Preuss, who was part of an impressive pitching battery that led the Wildcats to the 2008 Division I state finals, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball at Lake Superior State. 

Preuss called pitches for standout hurler Rachel Gebauer, who pitched Alpena to a 34-6 record and the program's first state finals appearance. After beating Rockford 2-1 in a 17-inning quarterfinal marathon and Howell 4-1 in the semifinals, the Wildcats went on to lose 2-1 to Garden River in the state championship game.

"We started out last season with Rachel calling her own pitches, and I'm not going to tell you how we did that," Alpena coach Paul Marwede said. "Before long it was Nikki calling the pitches."

Preuss gunned down 12 of 24 runners who attempted to steal on her. She was also a stolen-base threat in her own right, advancing successfully on 10 of 12 attempts. She batted .245 with four doubles, one triple and one home run.

"We think Nikki knows the game and can direct from behind the plate," LSSU coach Don Myers said. "She has an excellent arm, and she can come up throwing. She is
flexible and would be able to adapt to almost any position on the team. We like her attitude and determination to excel, and we will give her the opportunity to grow at Lake State."

Preuss carries a 3.75 grade point average and plans to major in engineering. Her sister, Lisa, was a three-year starting outfielder at Grand Valley State.