Regardless of the level of play or school she represents, Gabby Carr has found success on the softball diamond throughout her playing career.
And now she gets the chance to shine on the next level after she recently signed with Alcorn State.
"I feel like the little girl living her dream wanting to play college softball at the next level," Carr said. "And I know that my mom would have loved to see me here at this point. I'm just happy that I made it this far."
Carr's mom passed away when she was younger, yet she felt her presence among many members of her family along with her Southwest teammates and coaches who all gathered to celebrate and recognize her furthering her playing career.
Carr added that her mom was the main person who pushed her to pursue her dreams of playing softball, which propelled her to star at North Pike High School before she arrived at SMCC.
"She never played softball a day in her life, never played a sport," Carr said. "She actually put me and my sisters in softball and she wanted us to have something in life other than school. She wanted us to be involved in the community and play our best. She always pushed me to do better and to do my best. I know that she'd be happy to see me at the place I'm at now."
Carr is no stranger to Alcorn, as members of her family attended the school. When she got the offer from the Braves, she knew that it was the right fit for her.
"Both of my aunties graduated from Alcorn," she said. "I feel like I am following in their footsteps."
Of course, Alcorn checked other boxes for Carr as far as appeal.
"Coach (Brianna) Billie and her assistants just gave off a great aura and I really like that about them," she said. "Their team was just so welcoming on my visit. The campus was beautiful and I just feel like that is some place I want to be at for the next two years."
Another factor that played a role in Carr's decision was proximity to home.
"Southwest is only 12 minutes from home and Lorman is a little bit farther but I don't mind the drive," she said.
Like she has done in the past and present, Carr said the plan when she gets to Lorman is to continue to play in the outfield.
Carr added that she is very excited for the opportunity to continue her academics and athletics on the next level.
"I never thought that I would get this far to go play at Alcorn because I had coaches in the past who didn't see what Coach Shea (Johnson), Coach Larry (Lippert) and Coach Callie (Venable) saw in me and also Coach Billie," she siad. "I'm grateful that they all gave me the opportunity to play at the next level."
Coach Johnson said that he is very proud to see Carr get the chance to shine at a four-year school.
"This is a big deal. This is a Division I program, and any time you get kids out of a local high school and a community college and get them to the next level, you feel like you have done your job and that's what it is all about," he said.
Johnson adds that he believes Carr will fit in nicely with the Alcorn program as well.
"They have some great things going on at Alcorn and I'm excited for Gabby be a part of that," he said. "I think that softball is really going to grow and step up to another level over there."
