Austin Peay State University Softball inks Chicagoland-area standout as second member of 2014-15 class

APSU Sports Information

Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University’s softball team’s 2014-15 early signing period class continues to grow with Carly Mattson casting her lot with the Lady Govs.

Mattson, a 5-foot-4 catcher/shortstop, plays for coach John DiFrancesca at McHenry East High School, where she has been a starter and team co-captain on a squad that has won three straight regional titles.

“First of all, it’s warm down there, I really like going down South,” said Mattson, in an interview with the Northwest Herald. “It’s a medium-sized school, it’s not too big [at 10,873 students]. It’s gorgeous and I felt a connection with the coach [Stephanie Paris].”

As a junior, Mattson was named to the Northwest Herald All-Area second-team after batting .364 with a .676 slugging percentage for the Warriors – with five doubles, four triples and a team-best six home runs among her 36 hits. She also scored 24 runs and drove in 34.

Defensively, Mattson only committed five errors in 185 total chances, for a .973 fielding percentage.

In the class room, she carries a 3.87 grade-point average and plans on majoring in physical therapy.

Mattson, who is also a two-year starter on the varsity basketball team, chose Austin Peay over Toledo and Northern Illinois.