September 26, 2021

By Jon Feyen
ScoutU

Maddie Koch always had the dream of playing college softball, but there was a time she thought it may not happen. Thanks to ScoutU’s help and her continued performance on the diamond, the 2022 outfielder committed to play for the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

“To be honest, before meeting with Jason Lauren, I felt a little lost in the recruiting process,” Koch said. “I was talking with a few coaches, but wasn’t sure I’d be able to make my dreams of playing in college a reality.”

Koch definitely has the ability to play at the next level, batting .423 and slugging .808 during her junior season for Hortonville High School. She also has power potential with a 70 mph exit velocity.

“Maddie’s main strength is her bat,” Lauren said. “With her powerful swing, she makes consistent and solid contact which I’m confident will translate to the college level.”

Koch had offers from six schools, but there was an appeal to playing less than 4 hours from home. The Falcons made it clear they wanted her to join them.

“After visiting River Falls and meeting Coach (Amber) Dohlman, I knew I’d found my home,” Koch said. “I can’t wait to be a part of her program, and continue growing as an athlete. Her coaching staff and the players I met were incredibly welcoming.”

Koch possesses a 4.0 GPA and plans on majoring in exercise science. And thanks to her softball skills, she found numerous places where she could continue her career.

“It was clear that UW-River Falls was the best fit for me athletically and academically,” she said. “In addition to those six offers, I was in contact with many more coaches from around the Midwest and as far as Pennsylvania – too many to count!”

Lauren was a big part of Koch getting those offers, and now he’s excited to watch her perform on a bigger stage.

“Maddie was a great kid to work with for her recruiting,” Lauren said. “Not only is she a talented athlete, but she’s also an outstanding student with a 28 ACT score. Her future is bright!”

Koch has been putting in the work on the field, at the gym and in the classroom for years. Now it’s paid off, and she’s on her way to living out that dream.

“I am beyond excited to be able to continue playing softball in college,” Koch said. “Softball has been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. I am blessed to get four more years to play the game I love, and I couldn’t be more thankful for that opportunity.”