Oak Park's Rice commits to Purdue

Julia Rice, a junior pitcher/ first baseman for the Oak Park High softball team, has made a verbal commitment to play for Purdue University.

"I fell in love with the campus, small-town feel, the coaches and the girls," Rice wrote in an e-mail.

As a sophomore for the Eagles, Rice posted an 18-4 record with a .646 ERA. She struck out 295 batters in 151.2 innings of work.

- Stephen Dorman