FAIRHOPE, Alabama — “Put me in coach!” Those are words Megan Dowdy’s coaches never heard from her. Because if a coach was very smart, she was probably already in the game.

“Born to start,” might be a better lyric to describe the female phenom prodigy that was or is Fairhope’s Megan Dowdy. A varsity letterman since the seventh grade in softball and ninth in basketball, Dowdy was the Natural.

Now a senior starting guard for the Lady Pirates basketball team and the starting center fielder on the Fairhope softball club again this spring, Dowdy signed to play softball Thursday for Samford University.

Although the Kentucky native will always love basketball, the decision to play ball on the diamond had been pretty clear for some time she said.

"I'll always love both sports and I'll miss basketball. I know my last night on the court is going to be

heartbreaking, but overall, softball is the right path for me, I know.”

Dowdy helped lead Fairhope to a third-place finish in the state last year in the 6A division and caught the attention of many college scouts a long the way, but felt that Samford was the place for her.

"I love the school, she said. "They’ve got new coaches and the program has really turned around. Last year they didn’t do as well, but this year they have a lot of new recruits coming in and next year the sky is the limit. It’s a small school and not too many people. I love Birmingham, too."

As a junior the speedy, lefty, slap-bunt specialist hit .574 last season with a .648 slugging percentage. She hit for six doubles, two triples, a home run and 30 RBIs. She had 53 steals and 59 runs scored for the Lady Pirates. She was an all-state selection as a sophomore and junior.

Her speed is just one of her many valuable skills said Fairhope head coach Jonathan Heflin who has coached Dowdy since she started for him as a seventh grader.

"I remember meeting her for the first time as this little seventh grader who when she stepped out on the field just became this amazing ball player. And to get to work with her all these years is what every coach hopes for. And she sets such a high standard for herself and helps everybody get better. And as a student taking care of her classroom responsibilities, she is a real leader and it's just been a pleasure to have been her coach. Megan, to me, is one of those five-tool players," he added. "She is extremely fast out of the box, fast on the bases and she is solid in the box and will take what the defense gives her. She also has the ability to just step up and swing the bat and place the ball where she needs to and her defensive skills are reading the ball off the bat in the outfield, making a break on the ball and getting into position to make the play, setting her feet and making the throw."

Dowdy said earning the scholarship is a big accomplishment, but she couldn't have done it alone.

"It just means a lot to me because I have worked really hard for it," Dowdy said. "A lot of people have really helped me, too. I really want to thank (Fairhope Basketball) coach (Jessica) Webb for pushing me, making me tougher physically and mentally and a better athlete. I know my basketball abilities carried over to softball and she helped me a lot. And my dad for working with me all those nights and my whole family for helping me. It means so much. And coach Heflin of course and everybody really."

Webb said that Dowdy's athletic abilities were natural, but that she also worked very hard to make the most of them. "She is a great athlete, no doubt, and I'm happy she focused on softball, but she is good enough that if she had focused on basketball, we would be signing a basketball scholarship today. Maybe both. She's a difference maker who plays with a big heart.”

Dowdy plans to major in physical therapy.