Shelbyville softball’s top pitcher the last three seasons recently announced her commitment to the University of Indianapolis.

Cheyenne Eads, who has helped the Golden Bears win 68 games the last three seasons, is considering majoring in Biology and Business while competing with the top-10 ranked Division II Greyhounds softball program.

“I am really excited to go there,” said Eads this week. “The coaching staff, the coaching style, all the players and the family environment they have is really great. It’s a great program. You know you have to go in and compete for a spot.”

Eads, the daughter of Jesse and Felicia Eads, also seriously considered Northern Illinois and Loyola but ultimately opted to stay close to home where she will play collegiately with another Golden Bear, University of Indianapolis freshman pitcher Hailey Pogue.

“I know coming in there will be a really competitive environment and I will have to push myself every day,” said Eads.

Eads was thrust into a varsity role as soon as she arrived in the program in 2021. She went 10-4 in the pitcher’s circle with a 2.73 earned run average as a freshman for a team that finished 24-5. She also hit .361 at the plate with three home runs and 17 runs batted in.

Shelbyville went from a top-10 ranked program to state title contender in 2022. Eads went 14-5 with a 1.91 ERA and was the starting pitcher in the program’s sectional and regional championship games.

The Golden Bears went on to defeat Bedford North Lawrence in the semistate semifinal before losing to eventual state champion Roncalli in the semistate championship game.

Eads had 138 strikeouts that season in 120 innings pitched.

As a junior, Shelbyville again won 20 games with Eads going 10-7 with a 2.30 ERA and 193 strikeouts over 127 innings. She also hit .344 with four home runs and 23 RBI.

Now a senior, she realizes she must step into a new leadership role this season.

“I’ve always been kind of a backseat leader of this team,” she said. “Now, being a senior I’ve got the spotlight to help form this program and help (new head coach Megan (Cory) Leffler) bring up the new prospects and build this whole program.”

Eads will find that process easier than the recruiting process.

“The process was all stressful but once it got over, it was such a relief,” she said with a smile. “It’s go time right now. I am really excited.”

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed. Get the most recent Shelby County Post headlines delivered to your email by visiting shelbycountypost.com and click on the free daily email signup link at the top of the page.