Rockford's Fokine signs with Malone University

After two years at catcher with the Grand Lake Vipers, Rockford's Remi Fokine is signing with Malone University to continue her softball career at the Division II level.

Fokine, who recorded a .429 on-base percentage in 2020, said that the supportive atmosphere at Malone was the deciding factor.

"Everybody's willing to take that extra step to get to know you, and they're always reaching out and asking, 'Hey, what do you need?' " Fokine said. "It's just such a warm environment there, and that's what my thing was. I love the support that I get there."

The supportive atmosphere distinguished Malone from the six or seven other schools that Fokine was considering, and one of the things that she valued most with Grand Lake, so much so that she would like to return to the Vipers down the road as a coach.

"You're not a player to them, you're one of their own girls," Fokine said of the Vipers' coaches, Nick and Jamie Walley. "They treat you as one of their own daughters. If you have something going on, they're willing to make the effort. So they're more like my second parents."

The last three years, Fokine also had the opportunity to hone her skills at the Jen Schro catchers' retreat in Anaheim, California, as one of 100 girls selected to learn from top softball players in NCAA Division I and the U.S. national team, with a focus on the catcher position.

Calling it a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Fokine pointed to that opportunity to compete and train at a high level for accelerating her development the past three years.

"You're able to just break down your skills and be able to work with some of the top athletes you look up to," Fokine said. "It's really awesome. I've been able to make some great connections."

Above and beyond her softball career, Fokine plans to major in biology on a pre-med track, with the hope of continuing on to medical school in four years. After medical school, she hopes to join the Army to serve as a trauma surgeon.

"That's my future plan, to be stationed overseas in Germany or whatever base, treating our soldiers and being able to provide care for them," Fokine said.

The research opportunities in the biology department were another incentive at Malone, as Fokine hopes to get research opportunities as an undergrad to prepare her for medical school.

On the field, Fokine has one more season with Grand Lake before joining Malone in the fall of 2021, and she hopes to use that time to further refine her game. After a late-year slump lowered her average in 2020, she hopes to hit .700 this season for the Vipers as she tries to end her time there in style.

"One big of mine is to hit a big grand slam at the end of the year," Fokine said with a laugh. "But we'll see how it all goes."