On Wednesday, the two created history.

Grubbs and Hill signed college letter of intents to play softball at Division I Alabama A&M in Huntsville. They are believed to be the first two players from the school to sign a softball scholarship to an NCAA Division I school.

“It feels great,” said Grubbs, who played shortstop for the Yellow Jackets. “I am feeling awesome about it. I feel like I will be an asset on the team, so I am feeling good about it.”

Hill, a third base, was humbled at the chance to continuing playing.

“It is a privilege,” Hill said. “I am blessed and I am happy.”

Making it doubly better for the two was signing together and continuing their long-time close friendship on a daily basis.

“Going with one of my teammates is a plus because we have been playing together for so long,” Grubbs said. “It will feel natural.”

Hill added, “I get to play with my best friend. It is great.”

Both players said Alabama A&M fit their desires for a college choice.

“I visited other schools, but Alabama A&M was the right school for me,” Hill said. “I loved the campus and I feel I will be a great asset to the team.”

Grubbs said, “Alabama A&M was the right place for me because I loved the campus and I am very excited about playing with the softball team.”

Grubbs and Hill were among the few highlights on an Abbeville team that struggled in the win column, though it reached the 3A South Regional Tournament.

Grubbs was a catalyst on offense. According to head coach William Helms, she hit .588 with 33 runs batted in and stole 111 bases.

“She has been the leader of the team,” Helms said. “Whatever she does and whatever way she went, that is the way the team went that day. If she plays hard, the whole team plays hard. In her first at-bat, I can tell whether we are going to win or lose. She carries the emotion of the team.”

Hill, a standout on offense as a junior, slumped a little this year but still hit a solid .373 with 30 runs batted in. However, her biggest value is on defense where few balls get past her at third.

“Mel is the most consistent player I have had for four years,” Helms said. “Anything hit towards her, she would do her best to get to it and most of the time, she got it and dug it out. We call her ‘Catwoman’ because her reflexes are so fast.”

Grubbs said she believed she would likely play shortstop at A&M. Hill said she would likely play third base for coach Nedra Brown’s team but could also see time in the outfield.

Reprinted from
The Dothan Eagle
May 12, 2010
To view the article in its original location, click here.

Youth Day in Abbeville has officially been rescheduled to this Saturday, May 15.  All activities will go on as normal.  Parade lineup begins at 7:30 am at the Public Library.  Opening Ceremonies will be held at the City Park following the parade.

Tickets will be sold for 50 cents each and armbands will be sold for unlimited inflatable turns for$10.  Come out and support our kids as they play!

This is the second loss in a row by the now 3-2 Jackets.

“We started the year like gang busters and we need to go back to it,” stated Coach Alphus Shipman.

According to Coach Shipman, the Jackets are pretty banged up now and missed assignments are taking place because of younger players having to see action.

Friday night the Jackets travel to Brundidge to take on the 5-0 Pike County Bulldogs.

According to Coach Shipman, Pike County has a reputation of trying to intimidate its opponents.

“If we do not let this happen to us, we have a chance to win,” Coach Shipman said.

Coach Shipman said even with two losses, the Jackets are not out of the playoff picture. However, he said the Jackets need at least three more wins to get there.

In the Houston County game, the Lions took the opening kickoff and drove 74 yards in seven plays capped by a 26 yard run by Desmond Warren with 10:00 left in the first. The PAT attempt was blocked.

A few plays later, the Lions recovered an Abbeville fumble and scored on a 19 yard pass from Warren to Patrick Smith with 8:42 left in the first. The try for two failed.

The Jackets took the ensuing kickoff and drove to the Lions 20 where a pass on third and 10 was intercepted to stop the drive.

In the drive Corey Gochett had pass completions of 23 yards each to Quentin Newman and Marcus Grimsley.

For the Lions, Warren threw for two other touchdowns to Jazeric Peterson.

Kenny Barber also scored on a two yard run.

Abbeville scored its lone touchdown in the second quarter on a 10 yard run by Newman to cap an 80 yard drive. Adam Rodriquez kicked the PAT.

The Jackets had 100 yards rushing and 60 yards passing on the night.

Andre Kinsey led Abbeville rushers with 81 yards.

Corey Gochett completed 6 out of 19 passes for 60 yards.

On defense, Darious Brown had 15 tackles, Alex Grimsley 10, Siran Neal 9, and Jerell Nelson with 7.

Contributed by
The Abbeville Herald
Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009 Edition
Pages 12, 14