Prattville softball players sign college scholarships
Prattville softball players Jessica Cord, Pyper Castro and Kadence Horton all signed letters of intent for the next level on Tuesday. (Tim Gayle)
By TIM GAYLE
PRATTVILLE -- A trio of Prattville High softball players signed with junior colleges on Tuesday, signaling a successful start to Brian Pittman’s tenure as the Lions’ coach.
Pittman hasn’t even fielded his first team yet, taking over just three months ago, but the new coach worked diligently on trying to line up future playing opportunities for pitcher Jessica Cord, infielder Pyper Castro and outfielder Kadence Horton.
Castro and Horton were solid on their commitments to Southern Union State Community College and Marion Military Institute, respectively, but Cord backed out of a previous commitment and opened up her recruiting after Pittman took the job, finally settling on Chattanooga State Community College.
“When I took the job, she wanted to open (recruiting) back up a little bit and we started looking at other options,” Pittman said. “(Chattanooga State) Coach (Blythe) Golden is one of my very close friends and runs a great program. Jessica went up there and worked out for Coach Golden and hit the numbers she wants on the mound. She’s going to step right in and help Coach Golden keep winning state titles up there in Tennessee and keep getting to nationals every year.”
Cord said a visit with the coaching staff after her tryout was a major factor in choosing the Tigers.
“When I first stepped on campus at Chattanooga State, it felt like home,” said Cord, who also plays third base for the Lions. “The environment was so welcoming and loving. I went on a visit and actually pitched for them and that short two hours of pitching for them really opened up my eyes. They taught me a whole bunch. I could tell a difference from the time I stepped on to the field to the end of practice. That just drew me in. And their coaching style really meshes well with what I’m looking for. It felt like home, so I had to go there.”
While Pittman believes Cord can step right in and contribute, the pitcher said the biggest transition to the collegiate level will be her ability to battle through adversity.
“I need to work on accepting failure better,” she said. “I am a perfectionist so I need to work on being able to fail and then overcoming it by working hard and working better and not getting in my own head.”
Castro plays first and third for the Lions and Pittman believes “she can play either one at the next level. The biggest thing about Pyper is her bat is going to travel. She led the team in average last year and is a really good gap-to-gap hitter. She has power. I think in junior college she could hit 18 home runs and step right in and be a leader for that program.
“It’s all about work ethic when you get up there. That’s something that Pyper really focuses on and does a great job with. That’s what I think separates her a little bit going to the next level, that work ethic and determination that she wants to be better.”
Castro worked out for the Southern Union coaches in a tryout last year, a decision that sold her on Ally Silva’s squad and caused her to block out other offers.
“Once I arrived on campus -- not even stepping on the (softball) field yet -- it immediately felt like home,” she said. “I was definitely surprised when I went on my tour. It was definitely something I was interested in.”
Castro said Bison coaches have not indicated if they have a preference for her position in college.
“They told me I was going to be more of a utility player for them,” she said. “Which I’m fine with. That’s definitely what I am here at Prattville as well.”
For Horton, choosing to play at Marion Military Institute was an easy decision.
“When I was younger, I always wanted to go into the military,” she said. “I finally found a college that fit every need I wanted -- military, great academics, great school, great coach, great softball program.
“As soon as I showed up and was introduced to the field, the coaching staff and the schooling, it made me feel like I was home. It was like a family.”
Pittman called Horton “an unbelievable worker, gap-to-gap type kid. She fell in love with Marion and Coach (Jeff) Benson the moment she went up there. Just loved everything about it. Other schools showed an interest but it was Marion all the way with her.”