Opp senior Kelley Pierce signed a scholarship to play softball at LBWCC on Wednesday afternoon.

Pierce, the daughter of Chris and Robin Pierce of Opp, said she had been thinking about playing as a Lady Saint for quite a while.

In fact, the OHS grad considered going to Enterprise State Community College, but a week later decided that LBWCC was the best place for her.

“It’s really exciting to me,” Pierce said about signing her scholarship. “I’ve been really looking forward to something like this for a really long time. I’m just really excited that it’s happening.”

Pierce’s excitement reverberated through the OHS library yesterday as her parents; brother, Adam; Principal Ron Snell; Lady Bobcats head softball coach Jimmy Reeves; and OHS assistant softball coach Len Jones were present.

Pierce said she made her decision to become a Lady Saint toward the end of her senior season and added that it felt good to do so. LBWCC softball coach Candace Tucker originally made the scholarship offer about a week after Pierce decided not to go to ESCC.

During her senior season, Pierce led her team in batting with a .429 batting average, hit 20 RBIs, eight doubles and one home run. She was also nominated as an honorable mention outfielder on the 2014 Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Class 3A All-State Softball Team.

Pierce said she thinks that she will be playing in the outfield next year.

“I’ll play wherever she (Tucker) wants me,” Pierce said.

Pierce has been playing the sport she loves since she was 9 years old. She has been playing high school ball since the seventh grade and has been a regular starter since the eighth grade.

Pierce became a full-fledged starter for the Lady Bobcats in her freshman year.

“It’s just my game,” she said about softball. “I just really love it.”