Free State senior Ashley Wagner picked a college. Now all she has to do is get ready to play.

“I need to get my pitches working,” said Wagner, who Tuesday signed a letter of intent with Ottawa University. “I need to get my fundamentals down and get consistent speeds. I’m going to work harder in the offseason than I have before.”

Wagner played basketball for FSHS the past three years, but she will focus on softball workouts this winter. She plans to pitch and play third base for the Braves in 2006 after choosing Ottawa over Baker University and Coffeyville Community College.

Wagner, a three-year starter at Free State, was 6-5 last year with a 1.51 earned-run average. She struck out 32 and walked 20 in 74 innings. During the summer, she was 8-8 for the Lawrence Hummers with a 1.78 ERA. She struck out 63 and walked 26 in 102 innings.

“She’ll be one of my key players this spring,” Free State coach Pam Pine said. “We’ll rely on her a lot for pitching and leadership.”

Wagner likely will be Free State’s ace this spring, but she also is dangerous at the plate. Wagner, who bats third or cleanup, hit .356 last spring with a .475 slugging percentage. The pitcher/infielder had one homer and led the Firebirds with four doubles. She followed that up by batting .455 for the Hummers with three home runs, two triples and three doubles.

“She definitely hits for power,” Pine said. “She’s got a really nice swing. She hits the ball hard every time up, and she doesn’t strike out often.”

While Baker recruited Wagner as a pitcher, Ottawa coach Jay Kahnt hopes to have her in the lineup when she’s not pitching.

“She’s going to get to hit,” Kahnt said. “We expect her to come in and contribute at the plate, too. She has a great chance to play third base for us when she’s not pitching.”

Wagner also felt comfortable at Ottawa because she has known Braves pitching coach Kristy Asher — the older sister of former Firebird Casey Asher — since she was 11 years old.

“I think she knows how to pitch,” Kahnt said of Wagner. “I think she can come in here her freshman year and be a very good pitcher.”