By Eric Lusk
Sports Editor
elusk@elkintribune.com

BOONVILLE — Starmount senior Chelsea Varner threw her net wide when considering options for playing college softball.

“I wrote a lot of letters and sent them out to a lot of colleges, even some colleges I had no interest in” the two-year starter at shortstop said. “I just kept sending them out.”

Varner didn’t have much problem deciding, though, once she sorted through the responses.

Mars Hill quickly rose to the top, and Varner signed a letter of intent to join the Lions’ softball program for 2010-11 last month. She’s one of five new signees inked by Mars Hill, which competes in the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Conference.

The school, affiliated with the N.C. Baptist Convention, is located about 15 miles north of Asheville with an enrollment of 1,500 students. The softball team finished 26-19 this past spring, including an 11-5 mark against conference competition.

“I thought I wanted to go to a bigger school but when I actually went to Mars Hill and saw the atmosphere, I ended up liking the mountains and where it was,” she said. “I liked how all the softball girls hang out. They are a family. And there aren’t too many people at the college.”

Varner becomes Starmount’s sixth college signee for softball since the school went to fastpitch 14 years ago, coach Heather Courts said. She’s the second in two years, following behind 2009 graduate Jana Matthews, who is now a freshman in Charleston Southern’s program.

“It’s a big deal,” Courts said of getting a college sports opportunity. “And the amount of money she is getting is pretty awesome. Unless you’re a pitcher, that doesn’t happen too often.”

Varner has been the Rams’ starting shortstop since the beginning of her sophomore year. She may not have anticipated becoming the captain of the middle infield so early in her prep career but was thrust into the role when a returning starter — an all-conference performer — opted not to come out for her senior season.

It didn’t take long for Varner to leave her stamp on the position, showcasing her gun for an arm and great defensive range. She earned all-conference this past season, helping the Rams earn a share of the Mountain Valley 2A regular season title and win the conference tournament.

“She stepped right in like it was no problem,” Courts said. “The first thing we were impressed with was her arm. Jana Matthews probably had one of the strongest arms we’ve had, and Chelsea throws just as hard as she does.”

Varner will likely begin her career at Mars Hill as a utility player but hopes to stay a middle infielder over the long haul. She also can play in the outfield if needed there.

When she‘s not playing high school ball, Varner is a member of the Magic, a traveling team from Concord. In 2008, Varner was named MVP of the Southern Stars Showcase in Savannah, Ga.

This past high school season, she batted a healthy .322 with five triples and 20 stolen bases. She had a .448 slugging percentage.

Varner is considering biology for a major, with a minor in Spanish, in college. She’s thinking now of a career in the criminal investigations field.

But before heading off to Mars Hill, she has one chief aim for her final high school softball season — help take the Rams to Walnut Creek in Raleigh, site of the “final four” state championship series.

Varner is one of two senior starters set to return. Carla Cave is the other. The two have already taken a leadership role, even though the season is still a few months away.

The Rams (23-3 in the spring) are slated to return eight starters in all, so a run to Walnut Creek is a definite possibility. Last season, Starmount lost in the second round of the state playoffs, getting ousted by the eventual state champions (Central Davidson) in an extra innings thriller.

In 2008, Starmount posted a 15-10 record, placing second in the conference. In 2007, Varner’s freshman season, the Rams were 14-10, also taking second in the conference.

“My two seniors, they are very excited and very determined,” Courts said. “They are the ones who said we’re going to have workouts this winter. Chelsea is pushing us — she is not only pushing us, she’s pushing the team.”