Rehobeth softball player inks with Troy

By David Mundee

Published: November 12, 2008

For Rehobeth softball standout Courtney Cherry, an offer from Troy turned out to be the best of all worlds.

She could continue to play a sport she has excelled at, do it close to home and on a full scholarship to a Division-I program.
A power-hitter with speed and a smooth defensive shortstop, Cherry, a senior at Rehobeth, signed that full scholarship offer from Troy Wednesday.

“I wanted to be close to home, close to my family,” Cherry said. “Family is a big deal for me. I didn’t want to go so far away that I would miss out on watching my little brother (Colton, 5 years old) grow up and that I wouldn’t get to spend time with my family.”
UAB, Jacksonville State and Alabama Southern also expressed high interest in Cherry, but the Rebel standout felt better about Troy.

“I couldn’t stand the distance of going that far away,” said Cherry of those programs.

Both UAB and Troy offered full scholarships, a rarity for softball programs, which must divide a small amount of available money to a large number of players.

“It was very exciting (to get a full scholarship),” Cherry said. “It came out as being only 20 percent at first then the more I guess they (Troy’s coaching staff) got to watch me play, the more the offer went up. I went on my official visit and they ended up giving me a full ride.”

Cherry has dominated the softball scene in recent years, starting at Rehobeth as a seventh-grader. She has been a two-time all-state selection (2006, 2008) and was an honorable mention all-state once (2007). She is a three-time Dothan Eagle Super 12 selection and was a player of the year in 2007 by the Eagle.

In the last three years at Rehobeth, Cherry has hit a blistering .455 (181-of-398) with 22 homers, while also stealing 102 bases.
This past season, she hit .392 (71-of-181) with eight homers, 54 runs batted in and 38 stolen bases. But she also earned 44 singles, 16 doubles and three triples. She was also walked 43 times by opposing coaches who feared her potential power hitting.

In addition, Cherry has had a fielding percentage above .910 the last three seasons, including .976 this past year, despite playing the demanding position of shortstop.

Her efforts have helped Rehobeth to an 110-30-1 record the last three years with two appearances to the second round of the sub-state and a state tournament appearance last year.

“She is incredible,” Rehobeth head coach Summer Chandler said. “She has got all the defensive tools and offensively she is such a threat. She has helped our program tremendously that you really can’t put it into words.

“For someone to get a Division-I scholarship full ride, they have to be awesome in the field and in hitting and she is in both areas. She can hit for power, but also for singles and doubles. Then when she gets on, she is such a threat (to steal) on the bases. If you fear her hitting and you walk her, she can make you pay for that too. You can’t win with her as an opposing coach.”

While known mostly for her power and her defensive prowess, Cherry is also a major threat because of her speed so much that Chandler gives her the green light on the basepaths. Cherry has stolen 32, 32 and 38 bases the last three years.

“She is not only fast, but she has ball sense and game savvy,” Chandler said. “You can’t teach that.

“She has the green light to steal because of her instinct.”

Though she plays shortstop now, Cherry started out as a pitcher at Rehobeth, even going 6-5 with three saves, 75 strikeouts in 68 innings and an 1.54 ERA as an eighth grader.

She played some catcher and third base as well before moving to shortstop fulltime as a freshman.

Cherry said she doesn’t know yet what position Troy coaches want her to play, but that it didn’t really matter to her.

“They haven’t said what position, but I am open to play anywhere,” Cherry said. “I am just happy to be there playing.”

Chandler said Cherry earned her scholarship, not just because of her talent, but because of her dedication.

“If anybody deserves it, she deserves it because she has worked hard for it,” Chandler said. “She has such a great work ethic.”