Ooltewah High School senior Sara Kelley signed scholarship papers Friday morning to continue her softball career at Carson-Newman College.
Kelley said she visited the campus in Jefferson City on Oct. 24 and was sold. It helped that Lady Eagles assistant Lisa Rogers had coached Kelley in summer ball before.
"It was a good atmosphere and the team chemistry was great," Kelley said. "It's also a Christian school, and that had a lot to do with it. I knew it was what I wanted."
Ooltewah coach Norma Nelson used Kelley as a designated hitter her sophomore year, when the Lady Owls won the Class AAA state title. Last year she played third base and batted .398 with 12 extra-base hits and 25 RBIs.
Nelson said she may play Kelley at shortstop this spring.
"She's hit the ball better each year," Nelson said. "She's a pretty good contact hitter that's got some power, too."
Nelson said she thinks Kelley has the ability to play right away at Carson-Newman. Kelley went 17-for-20, most of them extra-base hits, for the Tennessee Fury in the ASA 16-under A national tournament last summer.
"I think they're getting a great prospect," Nelson said.
Kelley Smiddie is a sports writer who has worked at the Times Free Press for 12 years. He covers high school sports and softball. Kelley’s hometown is Chattanooga, and he graduated from Brainerd High School and graduated Chattanooga State and UTC. Contact Kelley at 423-757-6653 or ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com.
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