BAY MINETTE—Baldwin County High multi-sport athlete Alex Easley accepted a softball scholarship to Enterprise State Community College May 23 in a signing ceremony at the Home of the Boll Weevils.

The left-side utility infielder with significant outfield experience spent most of her senior season at third base posting a .963 fielding percentage with 118 putouts and five double plays. At the plate, Easley hit .311 and slugged for .322 with 19 RBIs, 37 singles, seven doubles, a triple and scored 16 times. She was 6-for-9 in bases stolen.

Expressing interest in studying physical education and coaching in college, Easley said playing softball at the collegiate level was a goal that she was happy to achieve, especially after an injury her junior year.

“I'm excited she said. “I actually wasn't sure I would get to sign and play after I had some injuries in

another sport that I had to get over, but now I'm going to get to keep going.”

Throughout her high school career, she took part in and lettered in five varsity programs: four in volleyball, three in basketball and soccer, two in softball and one in cross-country. She was named to six All-County teams in four years. An AP (Advanced Placement) Honors student, she has been involved in school-related activities as a Leadership Student, Peer Helper, Key Club member and Most School Spirit award while participating in varsity sports year-round. She was also the BCHS 2012 prom queen.

Baldwin County Tigers Coach Kyle Hunter who took over the program this year said her leadership as well as athletic talent would be missed.

"I think Enterprise is a good match for her, but really, with her competitiveness, ability, work ethic and leadership she can be as successful as she wants to be wherever, whatever she puts her mind to. But, we're really going to hate not having her here. She was so good with the younger kids this year. Such a good role model for all the girls. Her refuse-to-lose attitude and just the way she fought, never giving up, never quitting, helped us as a team a lot of times to get the job done. May not have been pretty all the time, but we'll take ugly wins over pretty losses every time. And she just has that fight-to-the-finish quality, I guess, every coach works to bring out in a player. But with her, I think it's like a natural way to be."

Easley said her parents introduced her to sports, including softball at at early age.

"My mom and my dad (Sonya and Trey Easley) got me into it when I was little. My mom played softball at Baldwin County High School, too. My dad played soccer. They taught me a lot about sports. Supported me and encouraged me. Pushed me when I needed it. And all my coaches and teammates, too, they helped me become the player and the person I am. I want to be a coach one day. I hope I can be a good one."

She already has some experience in that field as a volunteer soccer coach with the Baldwin County Soccer Clinic and the North Baldwin Youth Soccer Association. She has also been a lifeguard at the Bay Minette City Pool the last two summers.

Hunter added that Easley would make a good coach if that's what she chose to do.

"(She) and I have talked about it," he said. "And she definitely has the qualities. Need to be a people person and she definitely has the charisma, the attitude, and as I said, the leadership. It's all there. She was queen of the prom. That should tell you, give you a little insight to her personalty. And she always has that big smile going.

"Whenever we get in a jam, she was always the first one to pick everybody else back up. And I think she's smart enough to understand when and when not to push that. That's maturity, right there. Need that. And she's influential on others and she understands setting an example is the best way to influence them. That's coaching know-how right there.

"But she's set a great example with how she deals with injuries, too. She's played so many games at third in her career and played most of them with some injury or another. Going from one sport to another, never really getting over the last season's injuries. But she knows that all great players have to play hurt at some point because when you play hard every play like she does, it's only a matter of time before something gets banged up. But she's a fighter and she never slows down. Whatever she does after college, she'll be good at it."