Kelsey Perkins will lead a high school fastpitch program just eight miles from where she dominated during her high school days.

Perkins, a four-year starter at shortstop for Rogers from 2003-06, has been named the head coach of the Graham-Kapowsin Eagles program.

The 24-year-old recently completed a her college softball career, which started at Western Washington University and finished at Boise State, an NCAA Division I school, for her final two years of eligibility. Perkins graduated from Boise State with a bachelor’s degree in communication in 2010.

“I always knew I wanted to be a coach,” she said. “It is a dream come true. It’s nice to get this opportunity. It’s awesome to coach close to your hometown, because I know a lot of people around here and will have a lot of support.”

Perkins will have the rare opportunity to coach against her high school coach, Jacy Ramsey, this spring.

“I have talked with Jacy a few times,” Perkins said. “She has helped me out with the paperwork and gave me tips on how to handle stuff that goes a long with being a head coach. She has definitely been a big help to me.”

The basics are very important to Perkins.

“My goal is to make sure our program really focuses on the fundamentals and make sure we are doing everything fundamentally sound at the plate and in the field,” she said. “My goal is for our team to at least go .500, and from there, see what we can do in the playoffs. We’re going to take it one inning at a time and one game at a time. My players will have a winning attitude.”

Perkins said playing at Boise State was the thrill of a lifetime.

“There are no professional athletes (in Boise), so the D-I athletes are treated more like celebrities than in most colleges,” she said. “It was a really exciting place to go to school and play sports.

“It was fun to be part of a Division I team. My dream as a kid was to play Division I. It was a very rewarding experience and was a lot of fun.”