Freedom’s Campbell signs with Cleveland CC for softball

Seven and a half months after her older sister, Lani, signed her letter of intent to play softball at Surry Community College prior to graduating from Freedom High School, Rumi Campbell made her college decision official on Wednesday.

A senior infielder for the Lady Patriots, Campbell signed her letter of intent to play softball at Cleveland Community College in Shelby once she finishes her prep career.

“I think any time a kid’s a hard worker and as talented as Rumi, she’s gonna do well wherever she goes,” Freedom head coach Connor Townsend said of how Campbell will adjust to playing for the Yetis, who were 34-14 overall and 23-7 in National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 10 Division II West play in 2025. “They’ve got a great program going that they’ve built over there, and I think she’ll fit right in and just do a great job no matter where they put her.”

Campbell pointed out that “as soon as she arrived” at Cleveland CC to visit the campus, “it just felt like I was back at home.” Additionally, she noted that she plans to pursue a degree in occupational therapy.

As a junior, Campbell was among Freedom’s team leaders in several statistical categories, ranking fourth in batting average (.385) and hits (25), tying for second in stolen bases (four), and ranking second in doubles (five). The All-Burke County honorable mention performer also scored 17 runs (fifth on team) and had 12 RBIs (sixth).

“Rumi’s just one of those kids,” said Townsend. “She’s had a lot of injuries along the way, just really had to push through a lot of adversity in her life and in her playing career. She works hard, she gets in there and gets down to it, does what she’s supposed to do, and really just pushes her team along.”

Campbell started playing softball in second grade, with continuing her career at the college level becoming a goal “around fifth to sixth grade.” But before she takes the field for the Yetis — who set a program record for wins last year en route to an NJCAA playoff appearance under head coach Ronald Beaver, who has been at Cleveland CC since its inaugural season in 2020 – she is looking forward to her final season at Freedom this spring.

After playing on squads that lost in the opening round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state playoffs each of the past two years, Campbell is hoping to help the Lady Patriots win some postseason games in 2026. She also mentioned that she would like to improve her individual numbers.

As far as what stands out about her time as a member of the Freedom softball program thus far, Campbell stated the following: “Coming back from games that we won. There’s a bunch of girls that I love that are like family.”

Campbell also thanked her mother and her grandmother for their support over the years, while Townsend discussed her expectations for Campbell during the upcoming season.

“Definitely looking for her leadership to continue,” said Townsend. “She played a huge role for us last year, and I’m really looking for her to lock down the infield for us and be a leader by example, vocally, just doing everything that she does the right way.”