Griggs ready for opportunity with Missouri Western

Louisburg senior Allyssa Griggs signed her letter of intent on April 14 to play softball at Missouri Western University. Sitting next to Allyssa are her parents Bert and Tiffani Griggs. Standing is Louisburg assistants Lynsey Sheely, Karlie O’Hara, Louisburg head coach John Ozier and club coach Lee Storrer.

Allyssa Griggs has spent the last four years with the Louisburg High School softball team as one of the Lady Cats’ main pitchers.

However, it is her bat that is helping her achieve a dream she has been building toward since she first started the sport – a chance to play collegiate softball.

All of Griggs’ hard work came to fruition on April 14 when she signed her letter of intent to play at Missouri Western University next season in St. Joseph, Mo.

“I have been waiting for this day for a long time and I am pretty excited about it,” Griggs said. “I have been looking for a while to find a good college for me and this seems to be a good fit. It is pretty exciting.”

Griffon softball coach Jen Bagley Trotter told Griggs they liked her potential at the plate and it all seemed like the perfect situation for the Louisburg High School senior as she hopes to help the Division II program in the near future.

Griggs, who earned second team all-Frontier League honors last season as a pitcher, is ready to leave that part of her game behind and focus her energy in the field.

“They see me as first baseman at some point,” Griggs said. “They wanted me because they said I had potential with the bat and I have a lot of things to work with in that aspect. I like pitching, but they told me I am probably not at that level right now, but I am solid in the field and it is something that I enjoy.”

Griggs will join a Missouri Western program that is the defending MIAA regular season and tournament champion, and currently has 36 wins this season. Following her visit to the school, she felt right at home.

Allyssa Griggs hopes to compete for a spot at first base for Missouri Western next season.

“I really enjoy the girls on the team,” Griggs said. “I really think I can get a good education there and I am excited about the coaching staff and what they have to offer for me.”

She is looking forward to learning from Trotter, who has been with Missouri Western for 16 years and has led the Griffons to two MIAA regular season championships and nine NCAA regional appearances.

Although Griggs is looking forward to the opportunity to play the sport she has grown up with, she knows a lot of work lies ahead.

“I can put into words how much that I love the sport,” Griggs said. “You obviously have to love it if you are going to stick with it that long. I have made a lot of new friends along the way and it has been great.

“It is almost surreal. I am glad I can continue to play softball because I feel that I have a lot to learn and I am really excited to see what the future holds.”

Griggs, the daughter of Bert and Tiffani Griggs, plans to major in biology while at Missouri Western, with the hopes of becoming dentist.