Kenslie Stanley (center) signs her letter of intent for a softball scholarship at Murray State College with her mother Melanie Stanley and coaches Brent Shaw of Murray State (left) and Mike McDonald of Silo (standing).

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SILO – Kenslie Stanley has committed to play softball at Murray State College in Tishomingo, signing her letter of intent last week.

Stanley is a four-year member of the all-county team in fast-pitch softball for the Silo Lady Rebels. She has covered shortstop and catcher positions and also received Honorable Mention honors in the all-region fast pitch team.

“This means a lot to me. A lot of people don’t get the opportunity to play college ball,” she said. “I’ve just always enjoyed playing, I have played since second grade.”

She signed the letter at Silo High School with her mom Melanie Stanley, a softball coach, at her side. Also joining them were Silo softball coach Mike McDonald and Murray State softball coach Brent Shaw.

“She is a competitor,” Shaw said. “She hits the ball really well. I think she will be able to come in and compete for a spot right away.”

McDonald called Stanley’s accomplishment a “stepping stone” for the Silo softball program as a way to improve opportunities for future Lady Rebels. “She is one of those girls who makes everyone else better,” he said.

Shaw said the Lady Aggies have recruited heavily from the Bryan County area, with recent or upcoming signees from Tushka, Rock Creek, Durant and Kingston. Current local Lady Aggies include Shaina Crites (Durant) and Macie Crites (Caney).

Bryan County is well represented in other Murray State sports. The women’s basketball team includes Kaylie Baxter and Sierra Moore of Durant as well as Macie Crites (Caney) and Jayla Kelly (Tushka).

Five baseball Aggies are from the region: Kenton Stanley, Keach Ballard, Jared Sterling and B.W. Savage all got their tutelage under Billy Jack Bowen in Silo, and Chase Crites of Caney is also in the MSC squad.