By Joshua Huff, sports editor
SPRINGVILLE — The decision to continue their athletic careers in a collegiate setting was too much to pass up for several Springville High School athletes as they succumbed to the desire of advancing their academic and athletic careers in college during a signing ceremony on Friday.
Three Springville athletes, baseball’s Braden Hughes, and softball’s Kyndall Gipson and Emily Robinson, signed their letters of intent to play college ball.
Gipson, a pitcher and outfielder for the Tigers, will take her services to Bevill State Community College next fall. The senior, who has played on the varsity squad since the seventh grade, has been part of an astounding four state championship teams. She has been dominant on the field in every aspect.
In 2017, Gipson went 11-2 with a 1.59 ERA with 45 strikeouts. In 2018, she went 8-1 with an ERA of 2.79 with 36 strikeouts. In 2019, she moved into the outfield and hit .330 with 27 RBI, three home runs and 25 runs scored.
“Kyndall’s hard work is paying off and the team will lean on her leadership when things get tough,” softball head coach Brandon Easterwood said.
Fellow teammate, Robinson, will move on to play at Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Mississippi. The senior has been a part of the varsity team since 10th grade. She was part of the 2018 state championship squad.
At the plate in 2018, Robinson hit .286 with 14 RBI and one home run. On the mound in 2018, she went 5-2 with a 3.00 ERA with 43 strikeouts. In 2019, she hit .358 with 41 RBI, 26 runs driven in, 11 doubles with seven home runs. She returned to the mound and went 6-2 with a 1.86 ERA with 69 strikeouts.
“Emily and Kyndall are both highly motivated players,” Easterwood said. “They love playing the game. Their positive attitudes and work ethic are contagious to the players around them. They serve as senior team captains and leaders in our softball program. As a part of multiple state championship teams, they are looked up to by their teammates and have always set a high standard of expectations. I am proud of their accomplishments and we look forward to their senior season. They are excited to represent their team, school and community.”
Hughes, a member of the 2019 state baseball champion Tigers, is a Southern Union baseball commit. Springville went 34-7 during a 2019 baseball season in which the Tigers won games 2 and 3 in the championship rounds to beat Briarwood Christian, 12-9 and 9-3, and win the Class 5A baseball crown. Hughes finished the season is a 2019 Maxpreps Second-Team All-American.
As a junior, Hughes was the Class 5A Player of the Year. He hit .398 with 49 RBI. On the mound, he was 12-1 with 71 strikeouts and a 1.79 ERA.