When it came time to choose between family and a bit more prestige, there really was no choice at all for Lauren Johnson.

The Porters Chapel Academy star accepted a scholarship offer from Mississippi College on Friday, welcoming the opportunity to play in front of family and friends more than a chance to play at Division II Delta State.

&#8220It was close to home and I’m used to my family being at all my home games,” said Johnson, the 2004 Vicksburg Post Player of the Year. &#8220I would love to play Division II ball. I had to decide between that and playing in front of my family … Mississippi College just made an offer that I couldn’t pass up.”

Mississippi College, a Division III school located in Clinton, does not offer athletic scholarships. Johnson said her aid package included leadership and academic scholarships, a typical way for Division III schools to provide financial aid for athletes.

Johnson had also been courted by Hinds Community College and William Carey. Delta State joined the fray after Johnson hit seven home runs during a tryout last month.

In the end, though, the chance to stay close to home won out.

&#8220For the past two months it was on my mind. Now I have no worries. I can just enjoy graduation,” Johnson said, adding of her decision, &#8220It was very tough. The hardest part was telling the coaches no.”

Johnson transferred from Vicksburg High – where she hit .431 and was selected to the Post’s All-County team in 2003 – to Porters Chapel before her sophomore year and immediately blossomed into a superstar.

She hit .536 in her first season at PCA, and was even more impressive as a pitcher. In the circle, she went 18-7 with 134 strikeouts and a 0.91 ERA en route to winning the Post’s Player of the Year award.

The Mississippi Private School Association plays its fast-pitch season in the fall, but the Post awards are given after the public school season in the spring.

Johnson continued the success in 2004, going 25-9, and helped the Eagles to a 26-12 record last season. She was an all-county performer in all four of her high school seasons, hit over .500 each of the last three years, and wrapped up her prep career with more than 70 wins and 400 strikeouts as a pitcher.

Although she was dominant as a pitcher for PCA, Johnson will play first base in college. She played that position for her summer tournament teams and only pitched in high school out of necessity.

&#8220I don’t want to pitch,” Johnson said. &#8220I usually pitch some in the summer, but I haven’t practiced.”