Kaylin Leggett Tuesday became the third of four seniors from Bryan County’s Final Four softball team to sign a letter of intent to play collegiately. The shortstop will be hitting the field for Valdosta State next year, a team that is currently ranked No. 12 in NCAA Division II.
“I went there for a visit and loved it,” Leggett said Tuesday afternoon after her signing ceremony at the high school. “I want to win a national championship.”
The Blazers are currently 35-10-2 overall and 19-9-1 in the Gulf South Conference and have reached the Division II title game three times since 2010.
“Kaylin is a great shortstop but she can be an asset at three or four positions,” Bryan County softball coach Al Butler said. “She can play the middle infield or the outfield.”
Leggett is just another in a long line of softball standouts the Redskins have produced, including current Auburn star Tiffany Howard and Armstrong State’s Logan Harrell, who has twice this season been named Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Week.
“We’ve probably had 12 to 15 girls in the last 10 years go on to play in college,” Butler said. “They’ve set the bar high and they are great role models. They represent BCHS very well.”
Butler said the program’s success has come from dedicated parents and players who love the game.
“North Bryan County is blessed with a solid foundation for baseball and softball,” he said. “The players know the fundamentals by the time they get to this level.”
Two of Leggett’s teammates have already signed letters of intent — Brooke Barfield with Georgia Tech and Layton Harrell with Shorter University. Shorter is in the same conference as Valdosta State.
“Layton plays third base and I’m at shortstop so we’ve formed a bond over the years,” Leggett said. “It will be weird seeing her on the opposing team.”
Leggett said she plans to continue playing travel softball through the summer and keep up with the workouts the Valdosta State coaching staff will plan out for her. She plans to major in communications with the hope of going into sports broadcasting.
The Redskins finished their 2015 campaign 29-12 and reached the Final Four before losing to Gordon Lee 3-1 last October.