Seabolt signs with Bears
Dana joins cousin Jess at Truett-McConnell
By JARED PUTNAM Union Sentinel Editor

Sentinel photo/Jared Putnam Dana Seabolt signs to play softball for the Truett- McConnell Bears.

Lady Panthers second baseman Dana Seabolt became the third senior to sign a softball scholarship, joining her cousin Jess Seabolt on the Truett- McConnell Bears team.

Seabolt said she was excited by the fact that high school will not be the end of her career and that she will have the opportunity to play at the collegiate level. "[Truett] is little, and it's close enough to home, but far enough away," Seabolt said.

Seabolt played softball all four years of high school. In her senior year she won the Hustle Award, in addition to receiving Coach's Awards in her first three years. Having also spent time as a pitcher, including the role of number two starter this season, Seabolt has also received recognition in the past for region wins.

Bears Head Coach Jenni Deitz said that she was happy to have Seabolt join the team. "She came up for a tryout and she just worked really hard," Coach Deitz said. "She had a really good tryout. She has a good attitude and I thought she would be a good fit. We're excited about having her."

Sentinel photo/Jared Putnam Back row (L-R): UCHS Principal Ed Rohrbaugh, Lee Seabolt (Dana's mother), and David Seabolt (Dana's father). Front row (L-R): Lady Panthers Head Coach Jessica Stewart, Dana Seabolt, and Bears Coach Jenni Deitz.

The coach said that the team will likely move her from middle infield to a corner position. "We're going to be using her as a corner [1st or 3rd base], probably third," Coach Deitz said. "She has really good footwork, a really strong arm, and gets to the ball well. I know she pitches too, but I haven't even seen her throw yet."

Lady Panthers Head Coach Jessica Stewart said that Seabolt's presence will definitely be missed on the team next year. "She was a good senior leader," Coach Stewart said. "She was solid on defense and solid at the plate throughout the whole season. She helped out pitching too."

Asked what she thought about a move from second base to third base, the coach said she envisioned a smooth transition. "She can play anywhere," the coach said. "She is athletic enough and will practice hard enough [to do it.] She was always staying after practice taking ground balls or hitting the batting cage."