FAYETTEVILLE, Ala. – Fayetteville High School senior softball standout Taylor Hammonds is taking the next step in her athletic career.
Hammonds announced Thursday, April 23 that she will continue playing collegiately at Central Alabama Community College, officially signing during a ceremony.
The decision had been in place for months. Hammonds said she first participated in a tryout in front of CACC head softball coach Greg Shivers back in January. After evaluating her performance, Shivers encouraged her to stay in touch.
That opportunity quickly turned into an offer.
During the Comer Classic tournament earlier this season, Hammonds delivered a breakout performance, hitting three home runs. Later that evening, Shivers called with a clear message.
“I’ve seen everything I need to see,” he told her, offering a spot on the Lady Trojans roster.
Although Hammonds drew interest from a couple of other programs, she said Central Alabama Community College was always her top choice.
She credited Shivers’ coaching style and reputation as a major factor in her decision, noting his ability to push players while bringing out their best.
Hammonds is projected to play in the outfield at the collegiate level.
Off the field, she plans to pursue a future in speech therapy. At Central Alabama, she intends to work toward an Associate in Arts degree before transferring to a four-year institution to continue her studies in the field.
With her college plans secured, Hammonds now turns her focus back to finishing her senior season strong. Fayetteville is set to open area tournament play Monday, May 4, at Woodland.
First-year Fayetteville head coach Dosson Stubblefield said he is proud to see Hammonds become the first player under his tenure to sign a college scholarship.
“It’s unfortunate I only got her for one year, but it’s been a lot of fun,” Stubblefield said.
