Photo: Glencoe High School senior Kaylee Higdon signs a softball scholarship with Coastal Alabama East Community College on December 3. Pictured, sitting, from left: Coastal Alabama East assistant softball coach Jeri Beasley, Kaylee, Kaylee’s mom Stacie Causey, Kaylee’s stepdad Jason Causey, Kaylee’s sister Hylan Higdon. Standing, from left: GHS softball coach Drew Harris, GHS softball coach Tommy Stanley. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)
By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor
Two years to the day after her sister Hylan signed a college softball scholarship, Kaylee Higdon did likewise on November 3.
The Glencoe High school senior signed with Coastal Alabama East in Brewton, approximately three years after a travel softball coach informed Kaylee that she was not good enough to play in college.
“I’ve been told by some people that I would not make it at the next level, but here I am,” she said. “I also had to fight hard for my position at first base, so today is really special.”
Despite missing five games after breaking her wrist this past season, Higdon batted .364 along with 32 hits, 25 RBI, 20 runs, three triples, two home runs, and an on-base percentage of .394, a slugging percentage of .534. and a fielding percentage of .953.
Higdon helped the 2021 Lady Yellow Jackets finished runner-up at the Class 3A, Area 12 Tournament finished fourth out of eight teams at the Class 3A East Regional Tournament in Montgomery. Higdon was named to the All-Messenger Softball first team following the season.
“Kaylee said from day one as an eighth-grader that she wanted to play college ball,” said GHS softball coach Tommy Stanley. “Fortunately, the Higdon sisters have been around me for a long time now, and Kaylee’s the type of person who’ll work hard to try and get in everything, whether it’s fielding or hitting or whatever. Kaylee didn’t let what other people said about her stop her from achieving her dream, which shows how mentally tough she is. She’s also great in the classroom, which is important as well for where she is going. Coastal is getting a good one, and I can’t be any happier for her.”
Higdon will join a Lady Red Hawk team that went 22-37 overall and 12-16 in conference action this past spring.
“I really liked the campus at Coastal, and the coaches were really nice,” said Higdon, who plans on majoring in nursing. “I also liked the dorms and the facilities, so it seemed like a good fit.”
Including three games du-ring the COVID-shortened 2020 season and 33 games her freshman year, Higdon’s career stats feature a .439 batting average, 65 hits, 43 RBI, 33 runs scored and 14 steals along with a .953 fielding percentage, a .684 slugging percentage and a .419 on-base percentage.
“We’ve heard great things about Kaylee’s bat,” said Coastal East assistant softball coach Jeri Beasley. “She also has a great knowledge of the game. We’re not just looking for talent; we’re looking for leadership as well, and Kaylee provides both of those things. We’re extremely excited to have her next year.”