College bound: Buchholz pitcher Bailey Quire signs to play softball at NVU-Lyndon

The thought of pitching intimidated Buchholz senior Bailey Quire at one point in her softball career.

"I've always struggled with wanting to pitch," Quire admits. "It's a really big responsibility to throw every single play ... you're in everything. It was really hard for a while."

Quire leaned on the help of former Gainesville High and Florida Gators pitcher Katie Chronister to help her become more comfortable in the circle. Chronister is now the pitching coach for Santa Fe College.

"Katie Chronister was a big reason why I stuck with it," Quire said. "She showed me that I could play at the next level if I pitched and that I was actually really good. She really helped me hone in my skills."

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And now, pitching is taking her to college.

In a ceremony held in Buchholz's cafeteria on Monday afternoon, Quire inked an athletic scholarship to play softball for Northern Vermont University-Lyndon, a Division III program in Lyndonville, Vermont.

Quire first committed to the Hornets back in April after leading Buchholz's bullpen this spring with 74.1 innings pitched, 40 strikeouts and a 3.39 ERA. Quire also helped the Bobcats from the batter's box, having tallied 15 hits, seven RBIs and one home run this season.

While Quire is excited to have an opportunity to continue her athletic career at NVU-Lyndon, the decision didn't come without apprehension.

"I was very hesitant," Quire said. "It's about 1,200 miles away from home and I'm leaving my twin sister for the first time."

However, after talking with NVU-Lyndon head coach Kevin Valentine, who led the Hornets to their first winning season since 2009 this spring, Quire felt like it was a transition she was ready to make.

"I didn't feel like I was going to be leaving home," Quire said. "I was going somewhere where I could have a second home. He made me feel a family atmosphere."

Moving up to Vermont comes with a considerable change of climate, which is something Quire, who was born in Kentucky, says she's looking forward to.

Upon arrival to campus, the Bobcats' ace looks forward to continuing to explore the game of softball and plans on experimenting in other area's of the field. She also plans to study pre-med.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: High school softball: Buchholz's Bailey Quire signs scholarship to NVU-Lyndon