Sports : Ashley Strong signs again with SWCC; this time for softball

Ashley Strong signs with SWCC, joined by her mom, coach Shirale Hanson & SWCC coach Lindsay Stumpf.

Ashley Strong, shown here with a ball she hit for a game-winning homer in 2011, signed with SWCC.

In November, Ashley Strong signed a letter of intent with Southwest Community College. Last week, she signed another one.

Strong will play both softball and volleyball for SWCC, which located in Creston, south of Des Moines. Last week, she met with SWCC softball coach Lindsay Stumpff for the signing. Also joining Strong were her mom, Teresa, and coach Shirale Hanson, who coached Ashley while she was in Middle School. She had signed with the SWCC volleyball coaches in the fall.

Strong was recruited by 14 colleges, visiting six of them. She had considered attending Heartland Community College in Normal, Ill., where her brother, Josh, is the pitching coach for baseball and the Coordinator of a new $12M Wellness and Recreation center on campus.

"If they would've had volleyball there, then it would've been almost impossible for her to choose," said Teresa.

Strong's high school athletic honors include:

* 2010: (While still considered a sophomore) -- Honorable Mention All Wamac Softball * 2010: (Junior year) 2nd Team All Wamac Volleyball and All District Southeast Iowa Volleyball Team * 2011: Summer 2nd Team All Wamac Softball, All District Southeast Iowa Softball Team and All State Softball Team Honorable Mention * 2011: Senior year 1st Team All Wamac Volleyball, All District Southeast Iowa Volleyball Team.