Lee County softball standout Chelsea Morrow signs

LEESBURG — During her career at Lee County High School, softball standout Chelsea Morrow wasn’t known as an overpowering pitcher who recorded a lot of strikeouts. She often induced ground balls and pop flies, allowing her defense to make plays.

But it was her consistency that helped her land a softball scholarship. Morrow signed to play at Alderson Broaddus University, a four-year college in Phillipi, West Virginia. The school is a health-related and professional educational institution firmly rooted in the liberal arts.

She said heading to school that far away will require making some adjustments, but she is ready for the challenge.

“I’m ready to experience something new,” Morrow said during her signing ceremony Tuesday morning in the Lee County High media center. “My parents will still love me 12 hours away.”

The right-handed pitcher provided a major spark for the Lady Trojans. She posted a 15-5 record with a 2.96 ERA, allowing 54 earned runs in 127 2/3 innings. The two-year starter also seemed to save ber best for clutch situations.

After the team lost the first game in the best-of-three region championship series at Tift County, Morrow helped Lee County win back-to-back games against Tift in the best-of-three series to win the Region 1-AAAAAA title. Then her pitching helped the Lady Trojans dispose of North Cobb in the first round.

“Chelsea puts good spin on the ball,” Lee coach Dwayne Suggs said. “She creates good movement on her pitches and has good location. We are definitely going to miss Chelsea.”

During her signing, coaches took turns telling stories. Former head coach Lynn Avery said she needed a player for summer game several years ago at Columbus State. Even though she was just an eighth-grader, she took Morrow. Avery said one of the opposing team members asked Morrow how old she was and they couldn’t believe she was only 12 at the time.

“I remember the look she had in her eyes,” Avery said. “She was really interested in it. She likes to keep things straight and have all of her ducks in a row. She is going to do well.”