Bulldog duo signs with Huntingdon

Crestview softball player Morgan Goshorn and boys soccer standout Kyle Hale can continue to cheer for each other as they signed letters of intent to play their respective sports at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala.

They join Bulldog football player Darius Smith, who signed with the Hawks three days earlier.

For Goshorn, signing a college scholarship was a dream come true.

“It feels awesome,” she said. “I’ve worked for it since T-ball age and to finally have it is kind of surreal. It hasn’t really hit me yet, but it’s amazing to be able to play a college sport at any level.

“I’m just excited and blessed that I have the ability.”

Hale chose Huntingdon because of the feel of the campus.

“I really liked the campus and everything,” he said. “The atmosphere around there was really great. The soccer team, they are looking to build and I was wanting to contribute to them becoming a better team.”

Crestview softball coach Kelly Hayes thinks Goshorn’s signing a scholarship can only help the program.

“I think it shows our girls can compete and they have what it takes to go to the next level,” Hayes said. “When  you have players like Morgan stepping out — players who are just a positive influence for everybody — that says a lot for this school, for the character of the kids at this school and our program.

“I think that will help some of the younger girls want to stay (with softball).”

Goshorn has played third base and catcher throughout her career, but she isn’t sure what position she will play for the Hawks. And while she would prefer to stay at third, she also thinks first base could be fun too.

Goshorn might not be sure what position she’ll be playing, but she knows it is her ability to swing the bat that gets her on the field.

“I think my hitting is better than my fielding,” she said. “I’m getting quicker though at third and that is something I’ve been working on. But as far as the better part of my game, it would be my hitting.”

Hayes listed another of Goshorn’s strengths above her ability to hit.

“She’s got several strengths, but probably number one is her knowledge of the game,” Hayes said. “I don’t think you could put her into any situation where she doesn’t know what to do.

“The second is her hitting ability. She is a very strong hitter.”

Like Goshorn in softball, Hale has several attributes that will continue to bring him success on the soccer field.

Bulldog soccer coach Scottie Milton thinks Hale has all the intangibles to be a successful college player.

“He has a determination and drive,” Milton said. “Kyle was probably one of our hardest working players this past season and I think that is going to be a benefit for him.

”To me, surprisingly, Kyle was more of a leader,” Milton said. “Looking at Kyle, he’s really a lot more athletic and quicker than I expected and he’s a very excellent defender. I would think he will be a defender in college.”

Hale agreed that his leadership is one of his strengths.

”It would have to be I’m a motivator,” Hale said. "I like to get people into the game and to come out on top.”

After playing for three head coaches his last three years of high school, Hale thinks he can handle just about anything.

“With all those different coaches you had a lot of different attitudes toward the game and how they coach,” he said. “I learned a bunch of things from the different coaches.

“I hope I will be able to use all of the things they have taught me in the past in college.”