SYLACAUGA, Ala. – With the sunset of her Lady Aggie athletic career on the horizon, Sylacauga’s Haydn Owens made the next step of her softball journey official on Wednesday evening, April 5.
Just one day removed from her Senior Night win with her Sylacauga softball teammates, Owens, a first baseman/right fielder in softball and shooting guard in basketball, signed a scholarship to continue playing on the diamond with the Lurleen B. Wallace (LBW) Community College Saints.
“This day means a lot to me,” Owens said of her signing day. “I’m accomplishing goals that I’ve worked hard for ever since I was little. Having everyone here to support me, that just means the world to me.”
Owens said she was offered a scholarship to play for the Saints last June, and after her visit to the campus located in Andalusia, she knew it was the right fit.
“The town is a lot like Sylacauga,” noted Owens. “It’s not really big, everybody is friendly. I really enjoyed being on LBW’s campus. It’s nice and has a good sports complex.”
Owens also said that she is developing a great relationship with her future head coach at LBWCC, Kaitlynn Hadley.
“Me and Coach Hadley, when we first met, we connected,” Owens expressed. “She’s very sweet, a great coach, and I know she’s always going to push me to do my best. She believes in me, and I’m looking forward to working with her.”
Her current coach Chad Wilkinson, SHS Athletic Director and the head softball coach of the Lady Aggies, had more kind words to say in regards to Owens and what she has meant to the program.
“Coach Hadley, you’re getting a quality athlete,” Wilkinson said. “Her work ethic is volumes above a lot of other athletes that have come through Sylacauga High School. Her academics, the energy level that she brings, and being a team player is what it’s all about when you’re playing high school softball. She’ll bring that over to the collegiate level.
Although only signed to play softball, Owens also wants to possibly try and walk on to the women’s basketball team at LBW.
“I’ve always hoped to and dreamed of playing sports collegiately,” said Owens when asked if she thought about achieving this when she was young.
With her LBWCC scholarship officially signed, what was just a dream for Owens is now reality.
