Yesterday was an exciting day for Daviess County softball as Annie Newman (University of Kentucky), Sophia Cain (Princeton University), Story Hume (New College of Florida), Shelby Bennett (Indiana State University), Briley Henry (Lindsey Wilson College), Molly Hancock (Liberty University), and Callie Smith (Centre College), all signed their college letters.
Over the past three seasons, the seven have helped Daviess County win three 9th District titles, three 3rd Regional titles, and reach the second round of the State Tournament three times – so it was only fitting they waited to all sign together.
“It’s awesome. The accomplishments we’ve all had are amazing,” Newman said. “We all grew up playing together on travel ball so to spend this day with them is perfect.”
For Newman, she always wanted to compete collegiately in her home state, and while she kept her options open, her heart was always set on UK.
“It’s surreal. It’s something I have worked toward my entire life,” Newman said. “It feels like a dream. Knowing that I am going to be able to play for my home state is so surreal. I get to stay loyal to them and represent them.”
Cain won’t be able to officially sign her college letter for a few months, but it was important for her to spend the day with her teammates. During her recruitment process, she focused on high academic schools, and Princeton fit exactly what she was looking for.
“I wanted to be close to a city, and their academics are some of the highest in the country, and that was the number one thing for me,” Cain said. “The family there is so close-knit. When I go there, I just feel at home. I know I will be fine there for the next five years.”
Striving for a career in marine biology, Hume only looked at schools in Florida and stated that the community in New College of Florida immediately felt like family.
“Whenever I saw New College of Florida and I visited, I knew as soon as I got there it was the school for me,” Hume said. “Then I met with the coaches, and they were amazing, and I loved them.”
Bennett’s recruitment process was quick, with her committing in October. While there were a few schools that stood out, she acknowledged that Indiana State was always first on her list.
“When I first went to the camp and met all of the coaches, I just knew that was where I wanted to be,” Bennett said.” The atmosphere and the town, everything is nice there. I really loved it.”
While they are both core pieces of the Lady Panthers’ lineup, both Hancock and Henry are also on the girls’ basketball team – helping the school win their first 3rd Region title a year ago.
“The basketball team is so supportive,” Henry said. “Also, to Coach Payne and all of the basketball coaches that were there, they support me throughout anything that I am going through. If I have softball games, they let me go to softball during basketball, so thank you.”
Henry had a few schools on her radar, but once she spoke with Lindsey Wilson, she stated it immediately felt like home.
“Everybody there made it feel like home,” Henry said. “The coaches. It’s just so welcoming. The community around there. It’s so great to be around.”
Hancock always had her eyes on Liberty, but acknowledged it will be difficult early on being so far away from her family.
“Going away from my family is definitely going to be hard because they have always supported me through so much, and they did so much for me,” Hancock said. “But they raised me to be able to be by myself, and I am excited to go and create something on my own.”
It wasn’t the easiest recruitment start for Smith, but she was able to speak with her teammates and relate with them on the process. She had a few schools on her radar, including Murray, but acknowledged none of them felt like Centre.
“The coaches. The home,” Smith said. “I do have a teammate that I played travel ball with that is at Centre now, and she loves it.”
Before the girls can focus on their college careers, they still have their senior season in front of them.
“We definitely want to win state,” Smith said. “I’m super excited to see what this season brings. We’re working out now, and we have been on the field for a couple days, but we are now getting strong and prepared for what the season brings.”
