CARROLLTON, Ala. — Corey Dawkins holds out her hand to illustrate just how tall she was when she started playing ball.
It might have been T-Ball, and she might have only been a few feet tall, but the small beginnings created a big love.
The passion for softball has remained as the former Macon Central Academy and current Pickens Academy standout has grown and matured as a player.
On Wednesday, Dawkins took the next step in her evolution as a softball player when she signed a scholarship to play softball at East Mississippi Community College in Scooba.
“It is kind of a relief,” said Dawkins, who played travel ball last summer with the Mississippi Elite out of Jackson. “It is a feeling of accomplishment because I have always wanted to get there and I have always worked at it. Now that I have actually done it, it is a great feeling and I am ready to keep going with it.”
EMCC coach Kate Neely said she has been watching Dawkins play ever since she was in junior high school in Macon. Corey’s sister, Alex, played softball for one season at EMCC, which helped Neely get to know Corey even more. She said Dawkins’ versatility — she can play catcher, infield, and outfield — will serve her well as she takes the next step.
“She has a lot of speed, she is real aggressive at the plate, and is hard to strike out,” Neely said. “She is an all-around good kid. I have known the family for a while. Just seeing their camaraderie and their support, they fit our program as a family. We’re glad to have her.”
Wade Goodman, who coaches Dawkins on the Pickens Academy softball team and coached her on the school’s girls basketball team, echoed Neely’s sentiments and offered the ultimate compliment.
“She is the best athlete I have coached,” Goodman said. “She can play anything she wants to play. Anywhere you put her she can play.”
Goodman decided to put his best athlete behind the plate, which meant he had to move Dawkins to catcher. He said she has responded and has continued to be someone who sets the example on the field, much like she did on the basketball court.
Dawkins transferred to Pickens Academy for her junior year. She said she has matured as a leader and is looking forward to the challenge of playing softball in college. She knows everything will get a little faster, but she is confident her love for the game will help her reach that level.
“Softball has always been my sport. I love it. I breathe it,” Dawkins said. “(Playing catcher) is fun. I love everything about it. I love getting down and dirty, blocking up balls, framing pitches, I love all of it. Every time I get into the batter’s box it is a great feeling. I like the pressure.
“I knew when I was in junior high I wanted to play college ball. It has always been that way. I have never had any doubts about it. I didn’t want to stop after high school. The fact that I am is an amazing feeling.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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