Kenzie Sawyer, Western Nebraska Community College's career home run leader, will be taking her offensive talents to the next level after committing to Dixie State University in St. George, Utah.

                Sawyer, who is from Cedar City, Utah, said she was looking at other schools, but decided that she wanted to stay close to home.

                "I am going there because it goes a long with my major and it is close to home," she said Tuesday evening. "I was looking at Mesa and Adams State, but I was pretty set on going to Dixie."

                Sawyer added that is means a lot to continue playing a sport that she loves.

                "I am super excited to continue playing softball," the radiology major said. "I absolutely love softball. It is something I have been doing for a long time and excited that I get to keep doing it."

                Sawyer possesses plenty of power, but it is not all home run power either. Sawyer holds the career home run record with 45, and is tied for career doubles with 46 with former Cougars Kara Ryman and Adena Hagen.

                In fact, Sawyer said she didn't always have that kind of power.

                "I wasn't that much of a power hitter for my first three years of high school," she said. "It was my senior year that I started to hit the ball hard."

                This season, Sawyer is hitting at a .480 clip with 26 doubles, two triples, and 21 home runs. She has knocked in 85 runs and crossed the plated 80 times herself. She also had swiped 18 stolen bases and has a slugging percentage of 1,008.

                Sawyer will take many memories with her after she graduates from WNCC in May.

                "I will miss definitely the family aspect of being a Cougar," she said. "I will really miss the coaches because they support me so much and they have helped me so much."

                Sawyer's season isn't finished just yet. The Cougars have a scheduled regular season game Thursday against Friends University in Kansas. After that they will host the first round of the Region IX tournament on Monday at 3 p.m. when they face Otero Junior College in a best 2-of-3 playoff. If WNCC wins that game, they will host the championship series against either Trinidad State or McCook.

                Sawyer said winning last year's regional title and making to nationals in the same city that she signed to play in, is one of the best memories she has.

                "I have made some pretty good friends," she said. "Winning the regional tournament last year is something I definitely won't forget as well as going to nationals. I have made a lot of memories here that I love."