BAKER — Come spring, Alexis Mitchem will start the next step in her softball journey when she hangs up the spikes for the last time as a Baker Gator.
Mitchem secured her softball future Tuesday, when she signed a scholarship to play for the University of West Florida.
The decision to play for the Division II school in Pensacola was an easy one for Mitchem.
“It is the school that felt most like home,” she said. “I really like the coaches and the players there. They just kind of welcomed me and it’s where I want to go.”
Mitchem, who has played several positions for the Gators, will be used strictly as a pitcher for the Argonauts.
“I prefer to pitch,” she said. “It’s something I’ve always loved to do.”
Baker Coach John Carlisle believes UWF will be pleased with Mitchem.
“She’s a competitor,” he said. “She’s going to bring a lot to them. She’s going to give them everything she’s got.
“She’s a determined young lady. She’s a kid that is not going to quit and is going to be a winner for them.”
Mitchem — who wants to be a doctor of physical therapy — said West Florida offers the academic program that will allow her to pursue her career goals.
That Pensacola is less than 50 miles from Baker helped.
“I’m excited that it’s close to home because I don’t have to miss out on everything that goes on with my family,” Mitchem said. “I can still be a part of it and I can still get back and forth when I need to.”
Mitchem said she will take the lessons she learned from Carlisle with her to the college game.
“I learned from Coach not to give up when things get hard,” she said. “And no matter what, you have to fight through things and stick together as a team. When you face adversity, you just have to stick together and overcome it.”
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker's Mitchem to play softball at West Florida (VIDEO)