By MATT METCALF

Sports Editor

Cranston Native and Bay View softball standout Lexi Rodi signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her athletic career at the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Conn. on Thursday afternoon.

Rodi signed in front of family and friends that were by her side through the years – a journey that featured her playing on numerous teams in many different leagues.

“It’s great,” Rodi said of having family and friends by her side during the ceremony. “They’re the ones who supported me all the way through, they got me here.”

Through all of the practices and games from a young age until this point, Rodi never imagined that she would be in the position that she’s in now. Everything until this point has undoubtedly paid off.

“When I started this journey however many years ago, I never thought that it would end up here,” Rodi said. “It started with Cranston Western playing baseball, went through CLCF Gals and then I played for Cranston National Budlong, which is where I got picked up by my travel team. It started out as the Northeast Nightmare and then transformed into the Rhode Island Thunder. If it weren’t for the Nightmare and the Thunder, I probably wouldn’t have been exposed to this journey at all.”

It was a combination of the school and the softball program that drew Rodi to Bridgeport. It was simply the right fit.

“I looked at different schools and I didn’t start writing to Bridgeport until the summer of my junior year,” Rodi said. “The moment I got to Bridgeport, I met the coach and the team, I knew it was the right fit for me.”

Rodi has already achieved a great deal playing for the Bengals in each of the last three springs, earning All-State and All-Division honors along the way.

Bay View struggled as a young team last spring at 5-13 in Division I, but Rodi has high expectations for her and her teammates in her final season this upcoming spring.

“We have a good team coming in this year, so we have the ability to do something,” Rodi said. “I’m looking forward to enjoying my final season with my friends and preparing for the fall season.”