By David Humphrey

For The Herald Bulletin

PENDLETON — Only a short time ago, Casey Jamerson was getting line-drive hits for the Pendleton Heights softball team.

Now, the 19-year-old Pendleton native is working on hits of a different kind.

Last January, the country singer moved to Nashville, shortly after her 19th birthday. She gave up a spot as an Indiana University outfielder to work with legendary record producer Paul Worley.

Worley produced the Dixie Chicks’ Grammy-winning albums “Fly” and “Wide Open Spaces,” and has worked with Big and Rich, Jo Dee Messina, Highway 101 and Ricky Van Shelton.

In September, Jamerson began recording with Worley at Warner Chappell Studio on Music Row. Living in Nashville has been an exciting and exhilarating experience for the up-and-coming star.

“The first eight tracks of my record will be completed by the beginning of 2010,” Jamerson said. “Recording is an amazing experience. We have used some of the best musicians in Nashville to play on the record. It is very tedious work but very rewarding.”

For the past nine months, Jamerson has kept a busy schedule in Nashville.

Songwriting appointments, guitar and vocal lessons, writer’s nights and meetings with management fill her agenda. Jamerson managed to attend the 2009 CMT Awards last June with her brother, Jason, and spent an afternoon hanging out with Grammy nominee Taylor Swift. However, the rest and relaxation didn’t last long.

Fans and critics alike know that Jamerson has an amazing singing voice, but she is also meant for the stage.

Between breaks from the recording studio, Jamerson returned home to perform at the Cool Creek Concert Series in Carmel and most recently at the 8 Seconds Saloon in Indianapolis.

“I’ve been the main act before,” Jamerson said, “and I played for almost four hours. It’s a long but fun night.”

Besides her legion of faithful fans from Pendleton, nearly every patron at 8 Seconds Saloon took notice when Jamerson started to sing.

One member of the audience was Clint Newsom, who plays lead guitar for country artist Billy Currington. Newsom made a special trip from Nashville to Indianapolis to see Jamerson perform a few weeks ago and didn’t walk away disappointed.