Friehe signs to play softball at Doane

Newly-hired Doane College softball coach Barry Mosley knew he needed a strong presence in the center of the diamond to improve the Tigers' program for next season.

Mosley said he hopes signing of McCook High School senior standout Lisa Friehe will help the rest of the recruiting dominoes fall in place.

Friehe, who owns the majority of the Bison pitching records, signed with the Tigers Tuesday afternoon.

"We're really looking forward to getting her down to Doane," said Mosley, who will take over the Tigers' program after four seasons as head coach at Lincoln Pius X. He believes Friehe will help attract other impact players to the Doane program, and has his sights set on some of the state's top players.

"She is an impact player," Mosley said. "She set some records that will never be broken here (at McCook), and we're hoping she does the same for us.

"We're losing four seniors. Lisa will battle for the No. 1 (pitching) position. She is very competitive."

Friehe said she is equally happy and relieved to sign a letter of intent to play softball. In addition to pitching, she will also play some first and third base for the Tigers.

"It's a relief to make the decision." Friehe said. "Doane will be a good fit. Me being able to play pretty soon was a factor. I didn't play third base this season, but I played some during the summer."

But she is focused on her pitching.

"I work for about nine months a year (on pitching)," Friehe said. "I put all my time into pitching."

Friehe, who played in four Class B state tournaments and helped lead the Bison to a school-record 30 victories against three losses, owns Nebraska Class B state records with seven consecutive shutouts and 57 consecutive scoreless innings.

She owns school records for season wins (27-broke own record of 23), career wins (72), career earned run average (0.469), season strikeouts (218-broke own record of 144) and career strikeouts (569).

Friehe was a Second Team Super State selection by the Omaha World Herald and Lincoln Journal Star and was named to the Class B first team by both papers.

Friehe was also named to the All-Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference Team and was an Academic All-Conference selection. Athletes with a 3.5 grade point average and higher are recognized.

Friehe said she enjoys playing softball with her friends.

"It's been a lot of fun playing here at McCook. I will miss all of my friends, but I will make some new ones.

"We (the McCook softball team, which went 1-2 at the state tournament) had a great year. At state, things didn't go our way. My teammates get along well -- no one's selfish."

Friehe said the Bison program should be strong for several more years. Altogether, the Bison will lose eight seniors to graduation next May.

"The girls coming up will carry on the tradition. Coach (Dale) Lortz and the other coaches have been really great. They will fill in the spots."

Friehe, the daughter of Mark and Dee Friehe and the granddaughter of Jo Smolczyk, plans to major in architectural engineering.

She plans to finish her studies at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

"I like to draw and I like math and computers," she said.