ETSU gets Lady Trojans' Everett

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

photo Staff photo by Matt Fields-Johnson/Chattanooga Times Free Press Soddy-Daisy's Alex Everett, left, congratulates pitcher Kelsey Nunnley after striking out three Lincoln County batters with the bases loaded.

Soddy-Daisy senior Alex Everett has signed a scholarship to continue her softball career at East Tennessee State University.

Everett said she visited the Johnson City campus last fall.

"I really liked the town," Everett said. "Everybody was really friendly. The campus is pretty, too."

Everett was a first-team all-city selection each of the last two years. As a junior she was most valuable player of the Class AAA state final won by the No. 4 nationally ranked Lady Trojans (52-2). She batted .519 last season with 23 extra-base hits, 48 RBIs and 57 runs scored.

Heading into last weekend's play when she hit her third home run this year, Everett was batting .429 with eight doubles and 16 RBIs.

"I think she's going to be an asset at East Tennessee," Soddy-Daisy coach Clifford Kirk said. "She's a good kid that works hard. She puts forth a lot of effort in practice. She's not one to goof off, so that should set well for her in college."

Everett knew ETSU coach Brad Irwin from when he was an assistant coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She also took hitting instruction from him at a winter camp at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

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"One of the big things I like about her is her ability to hit," Irwin said. "I've seen her play many times over the years, and I've been impressed with the way she handles the bat. Playing at Soddy-Daisy, she's coming from a program that knows what it takes to win. We know we're getting somebody that knows how to win and knows how to work."

Everett plays shortstop for the Lady Trojans. Irwin said he's unsure where she could end up playing defensively for the Buccaneers, although she would have a chance to compete for the shortstop position.

Everett said working on improving her speed is a goal before she gets to college. She plans to major in education.

Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653.