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| Thursday, September 2, 2010 |
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Scottsboro softball has first D1 signees
Published November 14, 2009
The number of Division 1 softball signees the decade-old Scottsboro fastpitch softball program had produced prior to Thursday was zero.
The new total now stands at two.
Scottsboro teammates Tyris Branford and Hilary Mavromat made program history as both signed letters of intent with Division 1 colleges during a ceremony attended by family, teammates and SHS administrators on Thursday.
Mavromat signed with Auburn University, while Branford signed with Jacksonville State University.
In doing so, both players honored verbal but non-binding commitments they made earlier this year. Mavromat committed to Auburn in February, while Branford committed to JSU in July.
Neither said they ever wavered on their choices.
"When (JSU) offered me this summer, I knew that was where I wanted to go, said Branford, a second baseman/outfielder.
"I fell in love with Auburn the first time I visited," said Mavromat, a pitcher/first baseman. "It's always been my dream to play in the SEC."
Scottsboro coach Cindy Patterson called Thursday "a special day" for the program.
"To see these girls' hard work and dedication rewarded just makes me proud for them and makes me proud for the program," Patterson said. "Hopefully we'll have more girls follow in their footsteps. I can't say enough about these two. They play year around with school ball and travel ball because they love the game.
"They're just as dedicated in the classroom. These schools got two great student-athletes."
Mavromat is a four-year starter and all-state performer. She began pitching for the varsity as an eighth-grader. Her pitching instructor of six years Paul Morin, who has done 247 lessons with her during that time span, said Mavromat has the "perfect combination of talent and dedication."
Mavromat's travel ball coach, Ken Hayes of the Birmingham Vipers, expects her to make just as much of an impact at the plate as she does in the circle at Auburn.
"It wouldn't surprise me any if she doesn't become an All-SEC hitter," he said. "She hits the ball so hard. Not many people in college softball has the power that she has."
Mavromat had a team-high .515 batting average last season with Scottsboro. She hit seven home runs with 52 RBIs.
In the circle, Mavromat's 18-16 record last season was deceiving. She had a stingy 0.62 earned run average, and only 16 of the 71 runs charged to her last season were earned. She also had 257 strikeouts in 2009, upping her career strikeout total to 1,280.
"Hilary's had such an impact on this program," Patterson said. "Her accomplishments speak for themselves."
Branford hit .394 and haunted opposing teams with her speed once on base. She stole 49 bases in 55 attempts and tied for the team-lead in runs scored with 56.
"Tyris is our spark plug," Patterson said. "When she gets on base good things usually happen.
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