VICTORIA MACKEY will take her softball skills to Southern Oregon University after pitching for Benicia High’s varsity this spring.

Benicia High senior Victoria Mackey fulfilled a dream Monday night when she signed an athletic scholarship offer to play softball for Southern Oregon University after graduation.

Mackey took a somewhat alternative road to the college ranks. The pitcher and first baseman hasn’t played high school softball since her freshman year at Benicia, instead concentrating on travel softball with the local Lady Hawks during the summer and fall. A strained back ruined her sophomore year, and Mackey elected to sit out last season when Benicia won its first Sac-Joaquin Section softball championship.

“I didn’t feel like it was the right fit for me,” Mackey said of not playing for the Lady Panthers. “Even though I wasn’t playing for the high school, I was still working out on the side every day and practicing.”

“It’s all about travel ball,” said Benicia manager Kristin Grubbs, who has coached Mackey before with Benicia Fire- Up. “That’s how kids get noticed. It’s not through playing high school ball because colleges are playing their own games at that time. Technically you don’t even need to step on a high school field to get a college scholarship.”

Lady Hawks manager Randy Randall’s daughter – Kelsey – is an infielder for Southern Oregon, and he told Mackey about the Raiders’ softball program. Mackey sent an e-mail to the Southern Oregon coaching staff and got a tryout during a travel ball tournament last summer. Her performance led to a campus visit in Ashland, Ore., and it wasn’t long before Mackey was sold on the school.

“It was great and a lot of fun,” Mackey said of her visit. “I met the girls and they were really nice and supportive. I think that’s why I chose that school, because of the players and the coach.”

“She’s the whole package,” Grubbs said. “I think she’ll make a real impact up there. She’s one of those kids with a great work ethic who never complains. She’s willing to put in that extra effort and I know that’s what college coaches like about her. She’s very coachable and has all the intangibles.”

“She’s a natural leader and an absolute competitor,” Randall said. “She has the heart of a lion.”

The Raiders, who last season went 15-23 overall and 14-14 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play to finish fourth, will be under the direction of first-year coach Jessica Pistole, who plans to use Mackey primarily as a pitcher. Mackey knows she has some work left to do before going off to college.

“I need to work on my mechanics and fix little things here and there,” Mackey said.

Mackey’s immediate goal is leading the Lady Panthers back to the Sac-Joaquin Section championship game. Mackey and sophomore McKenna Gregory give the Lady Panthers a formidable pitching staff.

“I’m hoping she’ll come in here and help us get back to that championship game,” Grubbs said. “She’s a great presence on the mound. She doesn’t get rattled and she’s a workhorse. She always wants the ball.”

“I’m really just happy to play for the last time with all of the girls I grew up with and for coach Grubbs again,” Mackey said. “I feel like this will be a great way to end my senior year. Signing this college scholarship is a relief and exciting at the same time. I’ve been working really hard for this.”

Mackey plans to study Marketing at Southern Oregon and is already looking forward to living just north of the California border.

“They have a great business program and I’ve already sat in on some classes,” Mackey said. “And I really like it up there. The campus is smaller and that’s something I wanted. It’s not overwhelming and it’s in a pretty town.”

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