Despite an impressive showing at the tryouts, Old Rochester Regional senior Deianeira “Nara” Underhill didn't think she was going to qualify for the Under Armour Softball Factory National Team.

"I was sick during the tryouts, so I honestly didn’t think that I’d make it, but I was really shocked when they called," she said.

The Softball Factory provides high school athletes with instruction, guidance and college planning. Students can get national exposure to college coaches through tryouts and tournaments.

Underhill, a member of the ORR varsity softball team, attended tryouts at Endicott College in Beverly. Tryouts happen across the country with thousands of girls vying for a spot on one of the Softball Factory’s teams.

During Underhill’s tryout, she hit four home runs, seven hits and one triple during 12 pitches. Her pitches were also clocked at more than 50 miles an hour. The day after her tryout, Underhill received a call from the player development coach saying she made the national team as a pitcher and first baseman.

Underhill will train and play under the guidance of Lea Ann Jarvis, a two-time NCAA All American and an Olympic qualifier who has won two world championships with the USA National Softball Team and who has coached Division 1 teams.

"I’m really looking forward to working with the different girls from around the country and being able to get the experience in coaching from some of the older players and coaches," Underhill said.

During Christmas vacation, Underhill will join the rest of her team at Historic Dogertown in Vero Beach, Florida for training and several tournaments.

A year round player, Underhill will remain active in the local softball scene. In July, she participated in the Bay State Games Summer Softball Games at Bentley College where she was the opening pitcher. She is also on the U18 River Hawks Fall Ball team in Taunton and the U18 Dugout Dawgs indoor team in Falmouth. Underhill pitched for the U16 Bay State Sharks fast pitch team in Bourne as well as a traveling summer league on Cape Cod.

For her efforts on the field, Underhill has been honored with Olympia Sports “Star Athlete” honors twice and was profiled in the March issue of “Balls and Strikes Softball Magazine."

When asked why she devotes so much time to the game, Underhill said, "I enjoy the fact that you’re able to just let out some steam, and I find it fun being able to play against different girls and being able to meet new people," she said.

The ORR senior isn't sure where she will be next year, but since she began playing softball, she knew she wanted to take it all the way to college. Underhill is looking at schools in New England and is already being courted by Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire.