Armorel's Beal signs with Enterprise State

Armorel Lady Tigers head coach Deanna Carr watched her fourth senior, Madison Beal, sign a letter of intent with a college.

Beal signed with Enterprise State Community College in Enterprise, Alabama on Tuesday.

Beal is one of seven classmates who will be returning from last year's Lady Tigers team that made it to the final four in the 1A State Tournament.

"I think we have all worked really hard for the past four years, and we played really competitively for most of our lives and I think that gives us an advantage," said Beal.

The key point that drove Beal to Enterprise State was the coach, Traci Harrison, has a willingness to get things done when setting goals.

"The coach definitely, she's the type of person who when she says she's going to get something she does it, she has goals, she's driven and sets high standards and I like that," said Beal.

Enterprise State's softball program runs on the motto student first, athlete second and that's what Harrison likes about Beal.

"The most important thing in our program is that we are students first and athletes second. I look up to people who not only are great athletes but also can come in and have good grades for our program too," said Harrison, " Madison is a great student here. She makes good grades and that's a big role in our program."

Also since ESCC is only a two year college, when they graduate they go another college and get two years paid from their softball scholarship.

"When they come to our program, they stay for two years, they graduate on time and then we ship them off to their next college being paid for two years by softball scholarship," said Harrison.

Last year in the elite eight game against the Taylor Lady Tigers, Beal hit a bomb that got the Lady Tigers on track to advance to the final four game with a 10-0 shutout over Taylor.

However, this year though after the final four game and heading off to college Beal says she just wants herself to get better all around.

"I think just getting better all around and improving in every aspect of the game," said Beal.

Carr tried not to get to emotional during her speech at the signing with Beal becoming the fourth senior to sign, but Carr says Beal's leadership and being a good role model is what will be missed most next season.

"Of course her leadership, being a good role model, a hard worker and also just her determination."

In Beal's freshman season Carr had many other pitchers so Carr says that just having her determination to stick with the program was a benefit.

"When she started out as a freshmen I had so many juniors and seniors ahead of her that she didn't get to play a lot her freshmen year, but she kept with it and in the offseason she worked really hard," said Carr. " Her pitching is really improved this year so I'll expect more out of her this year than I have."

Carr also mentioned that what ESCC received is someone who can step in on day one and help them.

"I think they're going to get someone who can step in and play and help them out. She's been playing travel ball since she was little so she's been playing year around for probably six or seven years now. She's use to that and dedicating time that it takes to be good," said Carr. " And she's going to work hard rather it's off season or during the season; she's going to work hard."