“It was difficult but my teammates understood I had prior commitments to my animals,” Shepherd says. “As long as I was helping (my teammates) out,” they were OK with it.

As the top returning player for Lakota West, Shepherd, an Ohio State signee, will be the veteran catcher on a squad that lost 10 seniors to graduation.

She hit .419 with six home runs, 22 RBI, 11 doubles and a .481 on-base percentage. The Firebirds have made the Division I state final four the past two seasons and there’s no shortage of expectations again. Shepherd understands that.

“I’m not the most talkative person, (but) I like to make sure when you are out there, it’s all business and that we aren’t joking,” Shepherd says.

Like the time and labor she has put in for her animals at the Hamilton and Butler County Fair or the Ohio State Fair and Louisville Expo, Shepherd has emulated the same work ethic for softball since she was 12 years old.

“I just think that as you hard as you practice, it will show up in the game,” she says.

Lakota West coach Keith Castner says Shepherd is one of the most dedicated softball players he’s had.

“She is such a top notch girl,” Castner says. “To be honest with you, we have a lot of hard workers and great players. She is one of the best I have been around in 20 years.”

Two years ago, Castner saw how dedicated Shepherd was to her animals after he went to the Butler County Fair. Shepherd admits she was messy from cleaning the horses.

“I thought it was neat to see in the middle of the summer,” Castner says.

Shepherd’s dedication outside of softball doesn’t surprise Castner, who often hears her ask for ground balls in practice.

Coach On The Field

It’s no wonder Shepherd wants to coach someday. In many ways, she already is a coach behind the plate. She played the outfield when she was younger, but now, she can’t see herself letting go of the action as a catcher.

“I always wanted to be in the game,” Shepherd says. In the summer, she also plays shortstop for the Dayton-based Miami Valley Express. Shepherd and former Lakota West pitcher Lindsay Bodeker will be on the squad that departs for Beijing June 13. The Express will play against several Chinese softball teams for 10 days. Shepherd is looking forward to the reunion with Bodeker – both have been friends and since Shepherd was 12 years old. Their families often get together at Willie’s Sports Café to talk softball.

“We would both hang out, go to movies, pretty much all the normal teenage things,” Shepherd says.

Bodeker, 18, who pitches for the University of Akron, says China will probably be the last time they will be on the same team as Shepherd moves on to college.

“(Rachael) would know what Lindsay’s strong pitchers were,” Castner says. “She knew how to keep Lindsay on track. They helped each other out.” Says Bodeker: “(Shepherd) is an amazing catcher; she will adapt to anything. She will help the younger kids. She just loves the sport.”

Junior Randi Bryan, sophomore Shannon Burke and three freshmen will pitch for the Firebirds.

“It will be a little bit different but I think it will help out a lot to work with different people,” Shepherd says. “Randi - she doesn’t grunt like Lindsay - which is like Lindsay’s signature – but everyone should have their own comfort (level).”

Shepherd says she enjoys the opportunity. “With Lindsay it was kind of easier because I really knew where to relax her,” Shepherd says. “With new people you have to learn their weaknesses and strengths in where they struggle and how they can pull it out. I just have to make sure to find it in different players.”

Business Decision

Shepherd plans to be a business major with a minor in animal science. Her dream is to open a sporting goods store so she could help other athletes find the proper equipment. Throughout her career, Shepherd estimates she has gone through six units of catching gear.

“I have always loved sports and I think the aspect of helping people find things they need are important, she says.”

Ohio State coach Linda Kalafatis says she went to Lakota West’s regional tournament game in Columbus when Shepherd was a freshman to scout Shepherd’s former teammate Leah Ledford, who is now a Buckeye.

“I just would sit back and say, ‘who’s the best athlete on this field,’” says Kalafatis. In her mind, the answer was Shepherd, who hit a home run to help lead the Firebirds to victory. From then on, Ohio State had Shepherd on its radar. After an early oral commitment to Wright State, Shepherd switched to Ohio State last summer.

“I think she will (play catcher),” Kalafatis says. “I think one of things we like about her is her versatility. She has a very strong arm so that obviously opens opportunities for her.”

It will be those moments Shepherd will certainly make the most of with her time in Columbus. Bodeker says she has no doubt Shepherd will succeed.

“She’s amazing,” Bodeker says. “From a pitcher’s perspective she is always there and knew everything I wanted. She is very positive and a well-rounded athlete.”