East Marion senior Skyler Sistrunk made school history Thursday morning, becoming the first softball player to sign a collegiate scholarship since the school began playing fast pitch in 2008.
Sistrunk, who struck out 101 batters in 77 2/3 innings and batted .381 with a team-leading 23 RBI last year, inked a letter of intent to play at Coahoma Community College next season.
“It’s been my dream since I was little kid to play in college. To be able to fulfill my dream I’m happy,” she said. “It feels good to have people around me who love me and support me and can see me do what I always wanted to do.”
Mississippi Delta Community College and Hinds Community College were also interested in Sistrunk, but Coahoma, which is in Clarksdale in the Delta, felt like the right fit for her from the beginning.
“It kind of reminded me of East a little bit. It’s very small just like East Marion is, and it feels like home,” she said. “I’ve been to PRCC and Jones, and they’re so huge. I’m not used to all that. I’m used to a small, quiet place and Coahoma is just like that.”
Sistrunk said it feels good to have her future secure heading into her senior season, which begins Saturday when the Lady Eagles play Sumrall at 11 a.m., but is now focused on doing whatever she can to help East Marion win this season.
“I have to keep in mind that I can’t think about myself. I’m not really thinking about the scholarship this season — I’m happy I got it — but now I have to push it out of the way and focus on my team,” she said. “I can’t think I’m better than anyone else because of it.”
Sistrunk singled out her mom, Rita, and Lady Eagles head coach Jeremy Allen for helping her realize her dream.
“My momma and coach Allen have really pushed me, and I’m happy about that. If they hadn’t pushed me, I wouldn’t be here right now,” she concluded.
Pictured Above: East Marion’s Skyler Sistrunk, front row right, inks a scholarship with Coahoma Community College with her mom, Rita, by her side. Pictured in the back row, from left, are Sistrunk’s father, Reggie, Principal Cindy Newsome, head coach Jeremy Allen and Kecia Porter. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
