Russell Christian Academy softball player Meredith Hunt, center, signs with Meridian Community College Friday morning in the school's chapel. Pictured with her are her parents, from left, Vikki and Allen Hunt.

Meredith Hunt doesn’t have a softball position she can’t play.

The do-it-all senior at Russell Christian Academy was recruited as an outfielder, but for the Lady Warriors, she just plays the position at which head coach Larry Lippert happens to need her that day. 

Friday morning, the RCA standout signed with Meridian Community College to continue her softball career, something she’s earned by excelling at multiple facets of the game, Lippert said.

“They’re getting a very versatile player; great hitter,” Lippert said. “(She’s) someone for us who’s filled in at the catcher’s spot. She’s played first, she’s played short, she’s played center field, she’s played left field — she can do it all.”

Having the opportunity to play college softball close to home was too convenient to pass up, Hunt said, and she got a sense that the teachers at MCC would be willing to work with her in terms of balancing sports and schoolwork when she visited the school.

“I love it,” Hunt said. “I had options to go five hours away, and I just love being close to home.”

For Lippert, watching one of his athletes earn a spot on a college team is one of the most rewarding parts of being a coach.

“This is always a big deal,” Lippert said. “It’s always a coach’s dream to have athletes go on to the next level. You want girls who want to make that step, and Meredith when she first came to school here last year I was hoping she’d get this opportunity, and now that she gets it, I’m proud of her.”

It also helps put the RCA softball program on people’s radar when it comes to recruiting players, Lippert added.

“It’s big,” Lippert said. “We’ve had fast-pitch softball here for I think the ninth or 10th year at the school, and she’s our fifth signee, so yeah, it’s a big deal when you get girls that are signing to play at the next level.”

Having played softball since a young age, Hunt said she’s happy to enjoy the camaraderie of a softball team for at least two more years.

“It’s the teamwork,” Hunt said. “You get together as a team, and I just like all the girls, getting together and knowing people.”

She’s also looking forward to representing RCA, a school Hunt’s grown to love in her time there.

“It means a lot,” Hunt said. “It’s like a family here. We all get together and learn about God. I love it.”

Hunt it the daughter of Vikki and Allen Hunt.