Hamilton Heights’ Lily Cash has signed a letter of intent to play softball for the Centre College Colonels in Danville, Ky. Cash is pictured with her parents Jon and Amanda Cash. (Jen Kauffman)
Submitted by Hamilton Heights School Corporation
Hamilton Heights High School senior Lily Cash has officially signed her national letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic career at Centre College in Danville, Ky. Centre College is a member of the Southern Athletic Association and an NCAA Division III institution. She is the daughter of Amanda and Jon Cash.
A standout student-athlete, Cash has excelled both in the classroom and on the field throughout her high school career. Her academic and athletic achievements include: 2025 Summa Cum Laude, Hoosier Conference All-Academic Team, Hoosier All-Conference Honorable Mention, and Impact Player of the Year – Softball; 2024 Top Ten Percent and Hoosier All-Conference, and Departmental Honors Award – Mathematics; and 2023 Top Ten Percent and Hoosier All-Conference.
Cash, who plans to major in pre-medicine with the goal of becoming a dermatology physician assistant, shared that Centre College has felt like home for as long as she can remember. With grandparents living in Danville, she grew up visiting the campus and was drawn to its strong academic reputation, small class sizes, and close-knit community.
“Centre College is my home,” she said. “When I took a deeper look during my first unofficial visit in July 2024, I knew it was the school I wanted to attend. The strong academic foundation, the labs, the small classes, and the incredible resources made me excited about the future I could build there.” Cash also looks forward to the additional opportunities Centre offers, including study-abroad programs and community engagement.
The chance to continue playing softball for four more years was the perfect bonus for Cash.
“Coach Laura Villagrana made me feel confident in my decision to attend Centre, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds with her as my coach,” she said. “The facilities and support for student-athletes are amazing.”
A dedicated softball player since age 7, Cash has developed her skills through years of travel softball, hitting instruction with Karl Willis, and pitching lessons with Coach Amy Harper. She credits her family and teammates for shaping her into the athlete and person she is today.
“My dad has been a major influence in my development,” she said. “He has supported me through everything from driving me to practices, games, camps, and tournaments to catching for me for 10 years. He pushes me to be the best version of myself. I’m also grateful for my mom, who has always encouraged me through the highs and lows, and for every teammate I’ve had. They’ve been more than teammates – they’ve been my best friends.”
Beyond athletics, Cash is involved in National Honor Society, serves as a Husky Sports Ambassador, competes with the Indiana Bombers travel softball organization, and runs her own small business, Lily’s Pet Services, serving families in Cicero, Arcadia, and Noblesville. She also trains in weightlifting at Raymer Strength in Indianapolis.
“Lily has made a tremendous impact to our softball program over the last four years,” said Shelby Wills, Hamilton Heights High School Head Softball Coach. “She’s an exceptionally skilled and knowledgeable pitcher, outfielder, and hitter with an unmatched desire to see herself and her teammates succeed. Her determination and unwavering commitment to grow on and off the field has made her into a fierce competitor and an exceptional leader. She is the type of individual any program would be lucky to have, and we wish her all the best at Centre College.”
Kurt Ogden, Hamilton Heights High School Athletic Director, added, “Lily has been a major contributor to the softball program since her freshman year. She is an outstanding pitcher, but she is also an outstanding hitter and capable of playing in multiple positions. Even more important, Lily has been an outstanding role model in the classroom having earned multiple academic distinctions and honors. She is precisely what we want our athletes to model here at Hamilton Heights.”
