Carissa Doyle couldn’t have picked a better day to sign a letter of intent to play for the Central Methodist softball team on March 17.

The Montgomery County senior signed her letter while wearing a green Central Methodist T-shirt on St. Patrick’s Day. Green is the color of the NAIA school in Fayette.

“My mom was telling me a couple of weeks ago that I can pick a day that I can sign,” Doyle said. “I wanted it on a Friday. Since I saw that it was on the 17th, I was like, ‘I’ll be wearing green.’ I always wear green on St. Patrick’s Day. I didn’t want to get pinched.”

More than 30 people attended the signing at the MCHS gymnasium, including eight of Doyle’s softball teammates.

“She’s very charismatic and she’s very friendly,” MCHS coach Audra Heimer said. “Everybody knows her. She’s a three-sport athlete, too. She plays softball and basketball and throws in track. She’s involved in a lot of things outside of sports, too. To have all of those kids who want to come cheer her on and wish her well is pretty cool.”

Doyle will become the third MCHS player in two years to play in the next level. Brooklynn Fischer and Sam Queathem, who graduated in 2022, are playing in Quincy and State Fair Community College, respectively, this spring.

“Anytime you can get a kid to sign, no matter where they’re going, that’s always a huge accomplishment,” Heimer said. “I read somewhere that only seven percent of all high school athletes play at the next level, no matter if it’s JUCO, NAIA, Division I or Division II.”

Doyle will be playing for a CMU program that has been enjoying success at the NAIA level. The Eagles finished with winning records in each of the last 15 years. A year ago, they won Heart of America Conference regular season and tournament championships.

Doyle picked CMU over Southwest Baptist and Maryville University because of its strong athletic program. Last summer, she went to the school’s softball camps.

“I felt like Central Methodist was perfect for me,” Doyle said. “I liked the environment there. It’s not in a big city.”

Doyle played softball all four years at MCHS. Last fall, she earned all-district honors and helped the Wildcats reach the Class 2, District 4 finals, which they lost to Valley Park. She played first base and did some pitching during the 2022 season.

“Carissa is an all-around good kid,” said Heimer, who coached Doyle all four years. “She works so hard. She had an injury that set her back. She learned to play multiple positions. She would do anything to play anywhere, so she really kind of stuck with first base. We really worked with her at that. She turned out to be a really good first baseman for us. Her hitting really came along through the years.”

Doyle said she enjoyed her time with the MCHS softball program.

“I’m definitely going to miss it a lot, but I’m also going to come visit,” Doyle said. “I like Heimer. She’s a really good coach. I got really close with her and the people I got to play with.”