Anna Holley thought her athletic career was going to take a turn.
After signing a scholarship to play soccer at Itawamba Community College and having her senior softball season at New Hope High School end without a trip to the Class 5A State title series, Holley wondered if her softball career was over.
The picture officially came into focus Thursday, as Holley signed to join coach Chad Case”s softball program at ICC.
The signing was a formality because Holley said she already knew she was going to play softball at ICC, but it didn”t matter because the day was still special.
“I am going to have to work really hard,” Holley said. “I have a little more confidence because I have played with the caliber of players (at ICC), so it is not very different.”
Holley hit .345 with a .405 slugging percentage and .346 on-base percentage. She had 16 RBIs, five doubles, 15 sacrifice bunts and a .994 fielding percentage for the Lady Trojans” fast-pitch team as a senior.
Nettleton”s Jessie Patterson also signed with ICC on Thursday.
Case couldn”t invite Holley for a tryout because New Hope High is in East Mississippi Community College”s district. He said he heard plenty of good reports about Holley and knew from talking with plenty of people Holley would fit right in. He anticipates her competing for playing time at catcher, and feels she is versatile enough to play several other positions.
“You bring in great athletes and just rep them out and, hopefully, they produce for you,” Case said of Holley, the first softball signee from New Hope he has had in his four years at ICC.
Holley will start her school year as a member of coach Mike Sullivan”s women”s soccer team. She said she knows she will be busy, but she will feel right at home considering she carried the same sports load for most of her high school career.
New Hope High softball coach Tabitha Beard hoped Holley would get a chance to play softball in college. She said she didn”t want to push the issue, and was elated when Holley learned she would have an opportunity at ICC.
“Softball always has been that love,” Beard said. “I was afraid a little bit of the burnout would come out because she had played for so long and she needed a little break and she was going to get it with soccer.
“I know she will do great. She is that athlete that no matter what she does she is going to do great because she has a great personality and she has a great work ethic.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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