OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Fredonia’s Sydney Bigelow (center) signs her letter of intent to play college softball at Mercyhurst North East. Also pictured front left is her mother, Natalie Bigelow, and front right her Fredonia Lady ‘Billies assistant softball coach Tim Wright. Standing back left is Fredonia High School Athletic Director Greg Lauer and back right is Fredonia Lady ‘Billies head softball coach Jesse Beers.

Fredonia Lady ‘Billies softball standout Sydney Bigelow signed her letter of intent to play college softball at Mercyhurst North East next year, Wednesday, at Fredonia High School. For Bigelow — Fredonia’s cleanup hitter and starting second baseman — the moment was a culmination of hard work and determination, after a serious injury put her career in doubt.

“I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to be able to throw again,” said Bigelow, referencing a serious shoulder injury she suffered earlier in her career at Fredonia. “Being able to throw took a lot of work to get it back.”

Not only did Bigelow get it back, but now she’ll be showing off her talents at the next level. Any doubt that may have creeped into her mind is gone now, especially after showcasing her arm on a bullseye throw to nail a runner at third base against Dunkirk a week ago.

“She was ten feet out on the outfield grass. That throw was perfect. It could not have been better,” said Fredonia head coach Jesse Beers of Bigelow’s throw after the game.

For Bigelow, the uncertainty of whether or not she would be able to play again did not replicate itself in her decision making process. She committed to Mercyhurst early, well before her senior softball season ever got underway.

“Around November I knew,” said Bigelow, who will be studying liberal arts. Bigelow added that she liked the size of the North East campus, saying it reminded her of Fredonia High School.

Fredonia is no stranger to the big stage, regular season or postseason. Bigelow says that has prepared her for a career at the next level.

“We play a lot of good teams, good competition,” said Bigelow of her experiences at Fredonia. “It really gets you ready for college.”

At Mercyhurst North East, Bigelow will be teammates with one of her toughest competitors from her time at Fredonia, as Chautauqua Lake star third baseman Cianna Braymiller has also committed to Mercyhurst North East for the upcoming season.

“It’s exciting. We didn’t know until the day before we played (Chautauqua Lake) the first time. It’s cool, we’re friends. … We’re excited,” said Bigelow.

With her eyes looking toward the future, Bigelow is excited to make even more memories in her final days at Fredonia. Bigelow knows that no matter where her career takes her, she has already built quite a scrapbook of memories as a Lady ‘Billie.

“All of the softball memories — the people, the coaches, teammates — mean a lot. They really helped me in making my decision,” she said.