Starting a junior-college softball program from scratch in a small rural county would seem to be a daunting task. Based on early results, Coach Amber Watson Reid of Surry Community College is up to the challenge.
SCC posted a winning record in the spring, going 24-20 in its second season in Region 10 of the National Junior College Athletic Association. Center fielder Brittany Draughn is moving on to Montreat College next season, becoming the program's first alumna to continue her career at a four-year college. Reid also is expanding her recruiting reach from her Surry County base -- she has commitments from three all-conference players from Forsyth County high schools for next season.
"It's good to know that we're getting the word out," she said this week.
Reid knows the local softball landscape -- she pitched East Surry to its first NCHSAA softball title in 1999 (the Cardinals won their fifth state title earlier this month). Reid relied almost exclusively on Surry County players in her first two seasons at SCC. Still, with the county's population of about 72,000, Reid said she knew she needed to look elsewhere for talent.
"I knew that eventually we would have to broaden our geographic area," she said. "We think there's a lot of talent in Forsyth County."
Reid has been able to tap into that Forsyth County talent pool. Joining the Knights next season will be corner infielder Danielle Scales of Reagan, utility player Megan Mabe of Glenn and pitcher Samantha Tarleton of West Forsyth. Reid said she might bring in other Forsyth County players as well, after receiving tips from some of her players who are on travel teams this summer.
"My players are some of my greatest recruiting tools," Reid said.
SCC's low tuition costs (about $1,500 a year) and popular academic programs also help the recruiting efforts.
"Our nursing program is really good, with top-notch instructors, as is the business program," Reid said.
The nursing program helped attract Scales to SCC. She said she also considered an offer to go to Winston-Salem State but was more comfortable with SCC's program.
"I just felt that the two-year program was a better fit for me," Scales said, adding that she can use her two-year degree as a springboard toward a bachelor's degree.
"It's a good way to get (four-year college) prerequisites out of the way," Reid noted.
Reid does have some obstacles to overcome. SCC, although it has on-campus facilities for baseball and basketball, does not have a softball field. The Knights play home games at Fisher River Park, a county-owned facility about 2½ miles from campus. In addition, SCC has no dormitories, meaning that players must either commute or find rental housing in Dobson, which Reid said is like "finding a needle in a haystack."
Reid said she hopes that SCC can get on-campus softball facilities and housing at some point.
"It's something to look for in the future," she said. "We're keeping our fingers crossed that we'll be able to get that done some day."
bgalbaug@wsjournal.com
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