People, atmosphere made NEO feel like place to be

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

A member of the Cassville softball team that helped the squad make history multiple times in her career is extending that career beyond high school.

Joei Blankenship has signed to play softball at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, Okla., next year, citing the comfort of the school during a visit as a major factor in her decision.

“As soon as I stepped on campus, NEO felt like home,” she said. “The people and the atmosphere made me feel as if it were the place for me to be. I knew that NEO was going to be the perfect fit because I was looking for a school that would help me continue to get an education in agriculture while also being able to continue my softball career.”

Blankenship was part of Cassville squads that won the program’s first ever district championship and first-ever Big 8 Conference co-championship. She also played on last year’s team that reached the Final Four, finishing in fourth place,

“My greatest accomplishment while playing high school softball has been going to the district championship all four years, being co-conference champs this year, along with going to state my senior year and being semi-finalists,” she said.

Though the accomplishments on the dirt were aplenty, Blankenship said what she will remember most is the camaraderie with her teammates.

“My greatest memory of playing softball at Cassville has definitely been going to the state on the charter bus and listening to music with all the girls,” she said. 

Blankenship said the people who had the biggest impact on her career at Cassville were her teammates, and she hopes to make an impact in return.

“My biggest piece of advice to those who want to play in college is to never give up and fight through adversity because there are going to be people who don’t want you to succeed,” she said. “Push through it and show them why you deserve to be there.”

Blankenship is the daughter of Clint and Bobbi Blankenship, of Jenkins. She is undecided on a major.