Versatile Cheboygan softball star Jordan Ashley to join Alpena Community College program
CHEBOYGAN – When it comes to her softball career, Jordan Ashley started late at 12 years old.
But late is better than never.
Since then, Ashley has transformed into a sensational softball talent and helped lift the Cheboygan High School team to success in the process. While her high school career is ending this spring, the journey won’t be over in June.
Ashley, one of several standouts on this year’s Cheboygan squad, will get a chance to continue her career after signing to play softball for Alpena Community College on Tuesday.
“It feels really good, I’m really excited about it,” Ashley said. "I wasn’t sure (if I wanted to play in college), but I kind of wanted to do it, so I just really started thinking about it and here we are. I knew I wanted to stay close to home, they have a good softball program there, and I want to go into education. They’ve got a good pre-education program, so that was nice.”
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Ashley’s decision to join ACC comes as her senior season gets underway with Cheboygan. Versatility has been the name of the game for Ashley, who’s performed well as an infielder, outfielder and pitcher, while also providing the Chiefs with a powerful bat.
When college coaches see those kinds of qualities, they usually come calling. Present in Cheboygan on Tuesday was first-year ACC coach Drew Ornelas, who previously coached at Delta College. It’s safe to say Ornelas is thrilled about Ashley making the choice to join a program he’s trying to build up.
“I know Cheboygan High School has very good players, and I actually coached one a few years ago in Avery Nowosad, and I know she’s pretty much the same type of player (as Ashley), as she’s a utility and she can pitch,” Ornelas said. “I’ve been teasing (Ashley) that she’s going to pitch, and that she’s going to practice all summer, but I was able to look at her stats online and see what she’s done, so we’re excited to have her."
Ashley’s rise to becoming a top player in the Cheboygan program has been impressive, but she also made sure to credit those who have helped her reach this point.
“(My coaches) really helped out even when I was younger, and Joe Kosanke has really pushed me to where I am now, and Bill (Clark) and Tony (Eustice), too, along with my high school coaches,” Ashley said. “They really pushed me into who I am now and taught me so many things, and I’m really thankful for that.”
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As excited as she is to join ACC, Ashley knows there’s unfinished business for herself and the current Cheboygan teammates she’s grown up and had plenty of success with.
“I personally want to accomplish winning districts and beating Escanaba and just having an overall really good season and having fun,” Ashley said. “It’s going to be really tough (when it’s over). I’m really going to miss playing with these girls and working with all my coaches, too. It’s definitely going to be different when I go to college, so I’m really going to miss everyone.”
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan's Jordan Ashley signs to play softball at Alpena Community College
