Sutter senior infielder Guinaiya “Nai” Garcia signed her National Letter of Intent to play softball at Northwest Nazarene University located in Nampa, Idaho, on Tuesday, November 14.

SUTTER, CA (MPG) - The Sutter Union High School girls’ softball team is going to have 12 graduating seniors this upcoming softball season and the deepest roster in the area. 

Two more Sutter senior softball players signed their national letters of intent to further their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level.

2024 catcher Morgan Heggstrom signed with Dominican University on November 13, and 2024 infielder Guinaiya “Nai” Garcia signed with Northwest Nazarene University on November 14.

Morgan Heggstrom

Heggstrom is entering her fourth year on the varsity level for Sutter and she told the Dispatch that Dominican felt like a home away from home. 

Dominican is around a two-and-a-half hour drive to San Rafael.

“It is a small school like Sutter, close-connected and I wanted a school where I would see 10 people down the street and I would know eight of them,” Heggstrom said. 

Heggstrom’s father (Kyle) and mother (Laci) are excited that she chose a school close enough for them to allow the opportunity to still watch her play collegiately and see her at school.

“She found a place where she would be able to do nursing and play softball,” Laci said.

Morgan added that Dominican works very well with their student athletes, and about half of the current softball roster play softball and are a part of the nursing program.

Sutter senior catcher Morgan Heggstrom signed her National Letter of Intent on Monday, November 13, to play softball at Dominican University located in San Rafael, California.

Kyle told the Dispatch that he is proud of Morgan’s perseverance of being dedicated to anything she commits herself to, and her ability to rebound from failure/adverse situations.

“All athletes have to go through some failure, and the way she rebounds and takes in stride is a sign and hope she does it the rest of her life,” Kyle said.

Laci added that Morgan’s dedication of when she sets her mind to do something, she is going to do whatever it takes to accomplish that goal/dream.

“Playing college softball has been a dream of hers (Morgan’s) since she was eight years old, and she has dedicated her life to not only on the field, but off the field with maintaining a 4.50 grade point average (GPA) in high school so she can have the choice of getting into the college that she wants too,” Laci said.

Morgan told the Dispatch that last season was left off way too soon.

“This year we (Sutter softball) are all coming out with a different want and a different dedication. It’s our senior season; I want us to get as far as we can,” Morgan said.

Guinaiya “Nai” Garcia

Sutter head coach Stefanie Danna said it best in her speech during Garcia’s signing, as Idaho is becoming the new Sutter with a big laugh from everyone in attendance.

The laugh is in reference to former Sutter pitcher Riley Wickum transferring to Idaho State University last summer, and Garcia’s teammate (2024 pitcher Olivia Bauer) who signed her NLI with Boise State University on November 8.

Garcia told the Dispatch she chose to sign with NNU because of the culture.

“They (NNU) were very welcoming and they have the high competitive level I want to play at,” Garcia said.

She added that when she stepped on the campus it felt like the right spot for her because it felt like home.

Garcia’s father (Mercey) and mother (Sherry) expressed to the Dispatch that they felt comfortable with the decision on NNU because Nai felt comfortable there.

“The atmosphere and environment along with her (Nai) being able to continue her higher education and play softball,” Sherry said.

Mercey added that he is proud of the drive Nai shows with examples of her being self-motivated and Nai made it easy to be her parents.

Sherry said that with the independence Nai has through her top priority being education she has built great relationships with friends and is excited for it to continue as she moves on to NNU.

Nai said the softball team is determined to go further than they did last season, and she hopes to continue making memories with her teammates off of the field.

Mercey and Sherry told the Dispatch they plan on catching as many games as possible.