Dayton High’s LaSade Conti smiles during the Dust Devils’ signing day last Thursday. Conti will continue playing softball at San Jose State next season.
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Dayton High’s LaSade Conti spent four years mowing down competition on the softball diamond.
Last Thursday, she — along with a few classmates — was recognized for her efforts as she will head off to San Jose State in the fall.
A chance to continue playing softball, especially at the Division I level has been surreal for the outgoing senior.
“Softball has been with me my whole life. It’s more than a game to me. I think of it like my best friend,” said Conti. “Being able to make it to the next level is a dream come true, especially at Division I. It really is just an amazing journey.”
With the Dust Devils, Conti recorded 554 strikeouts in 324 innings in the circle. In the same span, she allowed just 97 walks.
She said she thinks she’s going to start as a pitcher only, but Conti did plenty of damage with the bat, too.
Over four years she pieced together a .538 batting average with 39 doubles, 10 triples and nine home runs.
“For right now I think I am going to start out as a P.O., but as time goes on I think I will hit,” said Conti.
She said once the recruiting calls came in and she went on an official visit, everything was lining up blue and yellow.
“It was pretty easy for me to pick the Spartans. … They are very real. They don’t try to put on an act and that’s what I love about them,” said Conti.
Outside of high school softball, Conti played travel ball through the Nevada Hotshots under coach Joe Gooch.
She felt that the friends she’s made along the way has been the best part about the sport.
“The girls I have been able to surround myself with. Just being able to create relationships with that I wouldn’t have gotten an opportunity with not playing softball,” said Conti.
Conti is planning on majoring in criminal justice.
COLLEGE-LEVEL DUST DEVILS
Dayton also celebrated the signing of five other student-athletes Thursday.
The Dust Devils will have a pair of basketball players going on to compete in college, as Talan Brown will head to Lassen College and Isaac Powell will continue his hoops career at Yuba College.
Emma Hopkins is headed to Ottawa University to continue cheering while Alyssa Gallagher will attend Dakota State to keep playing volleyball.
Fellow Dust Devil volleyball player Madison Cleland will head to Central Maine Community College.
(A group of six Dayton High student-athletes are celebrated at the school’s signing day. Pictured, from left: Talan Brown (Lassen College), Issac Powell (Yuba College), LaSade Conti (San Jose State), Emma Hopkins (Ottawa University), Alyssa Gallagher (Dakota State University) and Madison Cleland (Central Maine CC). / Courtesy)