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C. Stager to join sister at Florida St.

By Izzy Gould
Published February 20, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Courtney Stager and older sister Ashley communicate with their eyes.

The Mitchell junior would crouch behind home plate, glance through her catcher's mask and watch Ashley tip-toe toward second base.

"There's so many nonverbal cues," coach Scott Bisbe said. "They play off of each other they've been doing it for so long."

They'll have a few more years to develop their second language after Courtney announced Saturday she orally committed to Florida State.

She'll join Ashley, who signed a letter of intent with the Seminoles last fall. Courtney is the second Mitchell softball player headed to a D-I program. Ashley was the first.

Bisbe said in 10 years of coaching, Courtney is the best catcher he has seen.

He described her as well-rounded. She can hit, throw and she exerts her intelligence on every play.

"She's just an all-around good ballplayer," Bisbe said. "She stretches singles into doubles all the time just by being smart."

Courtney's decision should make it easier on the family along with friends and Bisbe to see the Stagers at FSU.

"It's just so much easier for everybody being able to go to one school to watch both of them," Bisbe said. "It's close enough to go up for a weekend, watch a double header and drive back home."

And now the Stagers can just focus on helping Mitchell improve on its 3-1 record.

"(Courtney's) a free spirit," Bisbe said. "She may have wanted to blaze her own trail. I like the idea she wants to follow Ashley."

[Last modified February 19, 2007, 23:14:04]