Fayette’s three-year starting pitcher Skylar Sunderland signed a commitment last Tuesday to play softball next season at North Central Missouri College in Trenton.

The All-State pitcher completed a high school career with 590 career strikeouts. In three season as a starter, she recorded 54 wins against just 17 losses.

“I am super excited,” Sunderland said.

At one point, Sunderland considered giving up softball to focus on academics. She hopes to earn an undergraduate degree in psychology and plans to pursue advanced degrees in counseling or neuroscience before beginning a career in psychiatry. However, after visiting NCMC, she kept trying to find reasons not to play in college.

“I thought maybe that was a good sign I should go,” she said.

Coincidentally, her mother, Tara, went to NCMC to play softball after an outstanding career as a catcher at Fayette High School. In fact, Skylar planned to play the same position as her mom until her grandmother, Wendy, needed a pitcher one day.

“She’s the one who got me into pitching,” Skylar explained. “She pitched with me one day, and I fell in love with it.”

Bri Moore, who became the Fayette High School softball coach this season after a career as a college pitcher, gave Sunderland some advice when considering playing at the next level.

“I told her it’s a lot when you first go in. Work hard, but enjoy the moments of being in college. Because it happens once, and it happens quick,” Moore said. “High school is completely different. I think coming in there with the speed she has and the endurance…as long as she keeps working, she’s going to succeed. I think it’s a great program for her. I’m excited to see her play at that level.”

Since switching to pitcher, Sunderland has been striking out batters in Fayette and on a highly competitive travel team. She credits her pitching coach and travel coaches for preparing her to play at the college level.

“Their staff and my pitching coach will help me continue to throw where the collegiate level won’t be a problem for me,” she said.

As a senior, Sunderland finished a record of 13-8 in 20 games started. She struck out 166 batters and surrendered just 30 walks and 141 hits, ending her final season with a 2.762 ERA.

NCMC coach Sara Van Dyke said it wasn’t just Sunderland’s pitching speed but her varied pitch arsenal that attracted her to the team.

“I really liked her movement,” Van Dyke explained. “She throws hard, but she moves the ball really, really well. That’s what a lot of the girls who have faced her talked about. She can spin it. At the college level it’s good to be able to throw hard and fast, but to be able to spin it is completely different.”

Van Dyke said she vets players before recruiting them. The Pirates have several players on the roster from area teams Marceline and Boonville, who have faced Sunderland at the plate. 

“She’s played ball with a few of my current players,” Van Dyke explained. “It was really awesome to hear their feedback about her. They had nothing but great things to say about Skylar as a person, as an athlete, and as a student. That was really what drew me to her. “

Sunderland is excited about playing on a team with so many former opponents. “I got to practice with the team, and I loved everything about them,” she said.

Under Van Dyke, the Pirates have compiled a record of 92 wins against 72 losses over three years. NCMC plays a 16-game fall schedule in September and October before opening the more substantial Spring season in February.