Shelbyville senior celebrates college softball commitment to Marshall University

Shelbyville senior Addison Stieneker could have graduated in June, skipped her final year as a Golden Bear, and enrolled early at Marshall University.

Instead, she chose to savor one more year of high school and improve herself so she can be more competitive as a Division I college softball player.

The three-time All-Hoosier Heritage Conference selection made her commitment to Marshall official Thursday in the Golden Bear Room at Shelbyville High School.

In her three softball seasons, the Golden Bears have won 59 games, including two sectionals and a regional title. She was a freshman in 2022 when Shelbyville reached the Class 4A Final Four before losing to eventual state champion Roncalli.

She has not missed a game in three seasons and has a career batting average of .416 with 29 doubles, 15 home runs, 69 runs scored and 105 runs batted in.

That offensive production is what Marshall is counting on when she arrives on the Huntington, West Virginia campus.

Stieneker, the daughter of Matt and Angie Stieneker, will major in Nursing which is a tough career to pursue while being a Division I athlete.

“Coach (Morgan) Zerkle and their coaching staff are all Athletes Unlimited players,” said Stieneker. “They are super nice and the campus is pretty. They are one of the few schools that would allow me to attempt Nursing and play D1 at the same time.”

Stieneker was part of the Golden Bears basketball program in her earlier high school days and is now midway through her first swimming season. The sport was recommended to her by the Marshall coaching staff to improve herself as an athlete.

“It’s hard. It’s very hard,” said Stieneker of adapting to a challenging new sport. “It’s really eye opening. You think you can go swim a couple of laps … no … you can’t. There are a lot of other things built into it that you really have to work at.

“I like swimming. It’s a good challenge. It’s put me in great shape that I never thought my body could be in.”

Stieneker projects as a corner infielder at the collegiate level but will likely play shortstop and pitch for Shelbyville in the spring.

“This last season, I just want to have fun,” she said. “I know that we are probably not going to be the best team out there, but I want to be competitive because I hate losing.

“One thing I want to get out of this season is putting out our best effort, making it look like we want to be there and play. Myself, I would love to get that fourth year of all conference and just have a great season.”

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