Photo: Ashville High School senior Whitney Goodwin signed a softball scholarship with Snead State on April 21. Pictured, sitting, from left: dad Jay, Whitney, mom Stephanie. Standing, from left: Coach Joe Byrd, Snead State head softball coach Tracy Grindrod, AHS softball head coach Kristen Seals. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)
By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor
Whitney Goodwin made the most of her two years as a Lady Bulldog.
The Ashville High School senior, who transferred from St. Clair County High School prior to her junior year, signed a softball scholarship with Snead State on April 21 at the AHS softball field.
“I’ve been playing travel ball since I was seven, so it really is a dream come true,” said Goodwin, who was also a member of the school’s volleyball team. “My first day here, I was about to throw up from the workouts. But all the girls were so nice to me, even though I was doing awful. Everyone was very accepting and welcoming. It’s been a great two years here, and I’m looking forward to playing for Coach Tracy at Snead State.”
Goodwin currently leads the team with a .388 bat-ting average, a .506 on-base percentage, 26 hits and 21 RBI. On defense, she has a .980 fielding percentage and has thrown out 11 baserunners at catcher.
“Whitney’s one of the hardest-working athletes I’ve ever had the privilege to coach,” said AHS soft-ball coach Kristen Seals. “Sometimes I’ve had to tell her that I had to leave after she stayed late at practice, and that’s always a good problem to have. She wants to stay late all the time. Whitney’s a very smart players who is like another coach on the field. That’s all you want in a player. She’s an awesome teammate and an awesome person, and I’m so happy that she has this opportunity. She’s worked hard for it and earned it.”
Snead State softball coach Tracy Grindrod said Goodwin fits the bill of the type of players he prefers for his program.
“Whitney is one of those multi-position kids that can play anywhere and have the competitive spirit to win. We didn’t know much about her, so we did our research on her, and we found out that she is the real deal. She has the potential to go on and do some big things.
I always try to remind our recruits that there’s over 8,800 high school soft-ball players in the state of Alabama and that it’s up to us to narrow it down and find those few [players] who are at the tip of the pyramid and go on (to play in college). So we’re kind of picky, and Whitney has the attitude and the work ethic that we’re looking for.”