CALEDONIA — Ashley Langford understood what her father, Michael, meant when he told her years ago someone always would be watching when she was on the softball field.
But the Caledonia High School senior catcher didn’t fully appreciate those words of advice until earlier this year when she kept receiving emails from Mississippi Delta Community College softball coach Vanessa Farrell.
Langford said she had never heard of Mississippi Delta C.C. and wasn’t sure if she wanted to go there to play softball. It wasn’t until she made time in January to take a tour of the campus and to get to know Farrell and her program that playing softball in college became a real possibility.
Still, Langford wanted to take time to make sure everything felt right. On Monday, she finalized those plans when she signed a scholarship that paved the way for her to play in Moorhead for the next two seasons.
“All I had heard of was Delta State,” Langford said. “When we went there, we asked if I needed a tryout and (coach Farrell) said I didn’t need a tryout because she had already seen me play. She offered to sign me that day.”
Langford said it was a “big shock” he received the scholarship offer. That’s when her father’s words hit her and she realized that all of the time she spent playing travel ball had paid off. In fact, Langford’s time with Delta Rockers travel team was instrumental in helping her get a scholarship. Langford played with Stormy Eubanks, a former standout at Bayou Academy, on the Rockers. Eubanks is a freshman infielder at Mississippi Delta C.C.
Farrell said she often listens to input from her players when it comes to recruiting. She feels Langford already has played at a high level in high school and in travel ball, and she expects her to challenge for playing time at catcher next season.
“When I told our shortstop I was looking at her, she said she would be a good asset to our team,” Farrell said. “Right now, we have a freshman behind the plate who has done a fairly good job, but with the number of games we play one is not enough.”
Caledonia coach Robin Elmore said Langford was one of the seventh-graders she kept in the program when she took over as head coach. She said she is incredibly proud of Langford because she has worked extremely hard to realize the opportunity to play softball in college.
“She is one of the most coachable kids I have had,” Elmore said. “She has a tremendous work ethic and a lot of God-given talent. She is so deserving. She leaves some hard shoes to fill.
“She has been our leader on and off the field. She is a great student, and she is everything you want in a player.”
Langford, who also was a standout on the Caledonia High volleyball team, is prepared to compete in college. She admits it will be a challenge, but she feels she is ready to take the next step and to continue to do something she loves to do. She credits her father, who was a catcher when he played baseball, for helping her develop into a better receiver. She also said North Alabama Kraze travel ball coaches Neil Rogers and Nicole Martinez-Rogers were instrumental in helping her mature as a player.
“With hard work I will get there,” Langford said. “It is a big accomplishment because it is where I have always wanted to be. It has been my dream since I was a little girl.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.