Comet softball slugger Rachel Chambers signs to play for Drake University

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — Just before his star slugger shortstop signed her letter of intent to play softball for Drake University, an NCAA Division I program, Comet softball head coach Brian Bohlen related the monster stats Rachel Chambers has already put up during her prep career at Charles City.

They include 19 home runs and 64 runs batted in during her junior season; and 15 HRs and 67 RBIs her freshman season — the season HR and RBI totals are both ranked 1-2 in their respective categories amid Charles City’s all-time lists.

But Bohlen seemed most impressed with Chambers’s sophomore season … where she put up zeroes across the board.

An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee injury sidelined Chambers for that entire spring and summer.

“She had to watch someone else play her position,” Bohlen said. “She had to take on the role of a coach and cheerleader. We could see it was killing her not to be out on that field with her team. But she overcame those struggles and adversity to have a record-setting junior year.”

Chambers said she decided to continue her career at Drake in September after an invitation to the school. The invitation was prompted in part from Chambers’s participation at a prospect camp while being a member of the Southeast Iowa All-Stars, a post-high school elite summer team she plays for.

Chambers sees herself taking a middle-infield position with the Bulldogs … “or on the corner (third base)”

At Drake, Chambers plans to major in kinesiology.

“I’ve had a lot of experience (with kinesiologists),” said Chambers, who had two ACL surgeries on the same left knee. “I want to help other athletes to avoid what I had to go through.”

Chambers’s high school softball career is akin to the Hall of Fame baseball careers of Joe Dimaggio and Ted Williams, who both had a swath of their prime and likely most productive years nixed due to serving their country during World War II.

But even after sitting out her 10th-grade season, Chambers is still only two round-trippers away from attaining the Comets’ career record in home runs — Chambers has 35, record-holder Mara Forsyth has 37.

Chambers is also 24 HRs away from catching Alyssa Wiebel (Van Horne) and Kendyl Lindaman (Ankeny Centennial) for the state all-time career total. Granted, that’s going to take another monster season, but Chambers just came off a season from which she hit 19 despite the Comets being stopped early in the postseason by their standards in the second-round of the regionals.

Chambers also is likely to start her senior softball season swinging a meaner stick. Having decided not to risk another injury, Chambers will forgo basketball this winter which will free up time for more offseason batting practice.

“We have a batting cage at the school, and when Barry’s Clubhouse [an indoor sports facility] opens, I’m going to spend a lot of time there,” she said.

Bohlen is confident that Chambers will utilize her opened up training opportunities to the fullest.

“What sets Rachel apart from the rest is her attitude, work ethic and determination,” said Bohlen, who has had a second player from his team in the last three years sign with a D1 program — 2019 Charles City graduate Sami Heyer pitches for the University of Northern Iowa.

“From her infectious laugh to her team-first attitude, Rachel is an amazing athlete. Drake Softball is extremely lucky to have her.”