Mason Libla felt relief when he recently signed his National Letter of Intent to play baseball at Red Lake Community College in Ina, Illinois.
"It's so relaxing," the Poplar Bluff senior said. "I can't even explain to you how nice it is to be able to be like, yes, I got his out of the way, I know what I'm doing next year.
"Now I've just got to think about what job field I want to pursue."
The starting catcher for the Mules the last two seasons, Libla may be undecided on what he will study but he's been "an extention of the coaching staff" said Poplar Bluff coach Steven Edwards.
"Mason is a coach's dream," Edwards said. "He wants to go out there and get better every single day."
After a 1-for-11 start to his varsity career as a freshman, Libla will enter his senior year a career .283 hitter. He has played 64 career varsity games and will be a four-year lettermen. He's thrown out 41.2 percent of would-be base stealers, including 10 of 20 last season.
Libla hit .293 as a junior with 18 RBIs, third-best for the Mules, with two home runs while playing all 27 games. Behind the plate he allowed a passed ball every 24.1 innings. He also pitched four innings, allowing a run and three hits while striking out four.
"He's been a great player for us and I'm looking for great things from him this year," Edwards said. "Going to be filling the void for a pitcher."
Rend Lake was 27-25 in coach Tyler O'Daniel's first season leading the program. He had 10 players move on to four-year programs.
"Coach Tyler is a really good guy and I really like him," Libla said. "I think I'll fit in really well with all the players."
Libla also played football for the Mules, moving into the starting quarterback spot over the final 2 1/2 games after not previously playing the position before this summer. He threw for 609 yards and six touchdowns while completing 76 percent of his passes. As a defensive lineman during his sophomore and junior years, Libla had 28 tackles and recovered a fumble.
Libla said playing baseball for the Mules has been "absolutely amazing."
"I got to spend it with guys I've played with ever since we were younger and I got to make new friends along the way playing," Libla said. "Can't break that bone. We're all great friends."