Hallsville's Loni Rasberry visited Natchitoches, La. Saturday and came away impressed enough with Northwestern State University, it's softball program, coaches and players to verbally commit to the Southland Conference school.

Oral commitments are non-binding. The next national letter of intent signing day for softball comes in April.

But Rasberry, one of the premier pitchers in East Texas, seems satisfied with her choice and the prospects of playing with the Lady Demons.

"It's a relief for me to make the decision at this time," said Rasberry, a 13-game winner for the 10th-ranked Ladycats, who host Carthage today.

"It has been a goal of mine to play softball for a Division I school since I was little. Northwestern State fits me perfectly because it is close to home. I met the coaches and the players and really liked it. I am happy with my decision."

"She is the best pitcher I have coached," said Paul Moon, coach of the Ladycats, who lead the District 16-4A race with a 25-5-1 overall record. "She combines good speed with good off-speed pitches. She is a pitcher not a thrower."

Thus far this season, the senior right hander has three perfect games. Those came against Marshall, Mount Vernon and Whitehouse. She has four no-hitters, five one-hitters and a dozen shut-outs. The other no-hitter cam against Garland in a 0-0 tie.

Rasberry and Christi Gibbons have combined for 22 shutouts as the Ladycats have outscored opponents 142-21. Rasberry's season-high in strike-outs, 17, came in an 8-0 victory over Whitehouse earlier this year.

As a sophomore in 1999, she was voted the Most Valuable Player in balloting of district coaches.

In 2 1/2 years if varsity competition, Rasberry has a 50-18-1 record, striking out 674 batters and walking 44.

Rasberry leads the News-Journal's East Texas softball statistics in wins (13), earned run average (0.53) and strike-outs (172).