Fairfax, Va. isn’t nearly as far as Orono, Maine, which is one reason Bailey Snowberger chose her new college.

Another is a fresh start and wanting to “play softball happy again.”

Snowberger, the former Norwin standout shortstop who has dealt with three knee surgeries that stunted her career, entered the transfer portal after one healthy season at Maine. When she came out on the other side, she connected with George Mason, where she will continue her chase for consistency.

She will play at the Atlantic 10 Conference school with three years of athletic eligibility remaining.

“Honestly, George Mason was a bit of a full-circle moment,” Snowberger said. “Going through the recruiting process, I always wanted to go south and I love the state of Virginia. I was being recruited by coach (Justin) Walker, but it just never worked out, so when he reached out to me on June 8, he was already the front runner on my list.

“When I was touring campus, it immediately felt like home and I got a gut feeling that it was the place God had led me to be through this whole chaotic journey I’ve been on.”

Snowberger said she left campus and slept on it, prayed on it and journaled about it, and “woke up with the same gut feeling that it was home, so I called coach Walker the very next day.”

Snowberger said she chose George Mason over Pitt and Division II IUP. Her mom, Angie, is an IUP grad, which made her look at the school fondly.

Snowberger said she felt disconnected at Maine, which was 14 hours away from home where family and friends couldn’t watch her play in person.

George Mason is less than a four-hour drive.

Snowberger, an America East All-Rookie Team pick as a freshman, redshirted last season and has applied for a medical redshirt.

After surgery to repair a torn right medial patellofemoral ligament and meniscus last May, she had a second procedure in November that showed a larger tear.

That led to a third surgery this past May that included a lateral release of her knee cap.

She hit .263 with eight doubles and a home run in 49 games as a freshman.

Snowberger initially committed to Holy Cross when she was coming out of Norwin, but opted to follow coach Kimberly Stiles, who switched head coaching spots, going from Holy Cross to Maine.