By By Jeff Byrd / staff writer
May 21, 2002
Summer Richie will be a newcomer to the fast-pitch game but that didn't stop her from signing a women's fast-pitch scholarship with East Central Community College on Monday afternoon at Lamar School.
Richie's game experience comes from the slow-pitch version but she was the top player on her Lady Raider softball team. East Central head coach Mike Anderson says Richie's desire to learn and work is what he was looking for.
The 5-foot-7 Richie batted .600 as a catcher for Coach Tristan Howell's Lady Raider softball team. She had one home run and 20 RBI. The Lady Raiders finished 9-14 on the season.
Howell feels Richie can make the transition from slow pitch to fast-pitch.
Richie, the daughter of Mary Miller, would've liked to have played fast-pitch but it wasn't available at Lamar.
Richie says East Central had the best setting for her to continue her education.
This summer, Richie will continue playing at Northeast Park in slow-pitch play. But she is also going to try and get work in to prepare for next spring.
Anderson also announced the signing of two more area softball players on Monday. Krissy Harris of Newton County and Deneshia Qualls of Newton both signed with East Central.
Harris, a second baseman/out fielder, helped lead Newton County to the Class 3A State Fast-pitch Championship earlier this month in Jackson. Qualls was an outfielder at Newton High School.