Ellison's Ingram speeds to Marion
Posted On: Friday, Feb. 12 2010 05:23 AM
By Alex Byington
Killeen Daily HeraldAs one of two four-year starters ever on the Ellison softball team, Halley Ingram found her niche early on.
"I know it always comes back to my speed – they count on me to get on base and they count on me to steal and run and let my hitters hit me around and I run," Ingram said at a signing ceremony Thursday. "That's how we score runs, because you can't score runs without base runners."
With the same pace she runs the bases, Ingram signed a verbal commitment to play college softball at Marion Military Institute, a junior college based out of Alabama, during a ceremony Thursday at the school.
"I've always wanted to go to D-1, but this school has always been really nice to me, they've talked to me all the time and I just really want to go there because I know they can get me to the next level," Ingram said.
Known particularly for her quickness around the base paths, including the ability to reach first in under three seconds, Ingram has parlayed that into a chance to play at the next level.
"I'm really little and I don't hit home runs – I barely get them out of the infield," Ingram joked. "But that's what my speed is for – I get it down and run – run like the wind, that's what I'm for."
Playing both shortstop and center field for the Lady Eagles, Ingram's speed has been a major reason why she's been on varsity since her freshman season along with fellow senior Amanda Cruddas, who signed with Cisco Junior College last month.
"We both started as freshman, we've been together through everything, we played travel ball together and having the opportunity to play at the next level is great for her and me because I know we can both do it and both eventually go farther," Ingram said.
And it's with a no-fear, head-first mentality that has impressed college coaches.
"I do whatever I have to do to get on base," Ingram said. "I tackled a girl that was six-feet tall and was safe. I do whatever I can and I never slide feet-first, I always slide head-first just to get it done."
Contact Alex Byington at
alexb@kdhnews.com or at (254) 501-7566.