Three Newton County players sign with East Central CC

Published 5:13 pm Wednesday, November 7, 2018

DECATUR — Landree Amis, Shelby Anderson and Brittany Thomas decided they didn’t want to stop playing softball together once they graduated from high school.

Wednesday afternoon, all three Newton County seniors signed to continue their softball careers right down the road at East Central Community College.

All three are standouts on the diamond for the Lady Cougars, as Amis hit .320 with 28 RBIs last season, Anderson batted .375 with 29 RBIs this past spring and Thomas hit .324 with 19 RBIs as a junior. Anderson and Thomas also pitch, and Anderson had a 2.63 earned-run average as a junior with 67 strikeouts, while Thomas had a 2.80 ERA and 55 strikeouts last spring.

“They’re reaping the benefits of what they’ve done over their high school careers, so I’m ecstatic and just a proud dad,” Newton County softball coach Justin Chaney said.

Thomas said the decision was easy, not only because ECCC is right down the road, but also because it was an opportunity for all three of them to play together in junior college.

“I always knew if I got a scholarship from them I would go,” Thomas said. “I’ve heard a lot of good things.”

Said Anderson, “My team is like my family. I’m blessed to continue to play softball and be there with my sisters.”

Not having to attend school far from home — not having to move at all, actually — was another plus, Anderson added.

“I could walk there,” Anderson said. “My mom (Becky Roberts) has been really supportive of me through my career, since I was 3, and I made a decision so that she would be able to watch me play.”

Amis said the trio’s closeness comes from having participated in softball together for most of their lives.

“I grew up playing with them since age 5, and we’ve always been close,” Amis said. “Playing together helps strengthen that bond.”

The chance to play softball beyond high school was also too good to pass up, Amis said.

“I love softball,” Amis said. “I’ve been blessed to be able to continue to play with two of my best friends.”

While they may have gotten their signing ceremony out of the way, Anderson, Thomas and Amis still have their senior season of fast-pitch coming up in the spring. They each have one goal on their mind.

“This year, it’s to win state, because we haven’t won (a title in fast-pitch) in so long,” Thomas said. “This season should be special for us.”

Their high school careers may be drawing to a close, but ECCC is getting three players who not only excel athletically, but also have good intangible qualities, Chaney said.

“Each in their own way, their leadership (is their biggest strength),” Chaney said. “Their willingness to do whatever it takes to win. They’re team people, and those are easy to coach, and that’s hard to replace. It’s going to be hard to replace these three.”

While it’s not always easy to play for Chaney, Amis said being his players has helped prepare her and her teammates for fast-pitch at the next level.

“He’s a tough coach, but him being able to get onto us and push us to get to the next level will really help us when we get to college,” Amis said.