Six Oxford High school athletes signed to continue their baseball or softball careers into the next level. Senior softball players Brittni Beard and Madison Crosby signed to attend Northwest Mississippi Community College while Parker Stinnett and Clark Stovall will attend the same place. Both Tyler Smith and Jacob Melendez have signed to play baseball at Itawamba Community College.

After receiving other offers, Brittni was very excited for the offer from Northwest.

“I chose Northwest, because it was a better choice for me not only as a student but also an athlete,” Brittni said.

For Stinnett, it was the best fit for him and his dream of continuing his baseball career.

“I’ve always wanted to play baseball,” Stinnett said. “It’s what I want to do with my life so being able to play in college is a good thing.”

Softball coach Tabitha Beard was excited for her athletes to go to the next level in their sport and achieve their dreams.

“Its always great for females to have that opportunity to have school paid for and to be able to continue to play softball,” Coach Beard said. “Brittni and Madison are both pitchers and both our middle infield. They are leaders in just about every category we have. Britt had over 100 strikeouts last year and Crosby’s bat and her defense helps tremendously.”

Not only is Coach Beard the softball coach but also Brittni’s mother.

As a coach, it is what you want for all your athletes but as a mom its just cool to watch the journey from start to end,” Coach Beard said. “Its a little emotional because I have had the opportunity to coach her just about her whole career. To let her go and and to let her go somewhere else its kind of what you worked for since the beginning. Its a really cool opportunity and its bittersweet.”

Along with looking forward to his college career, Stinnett is excited for this upcoming baseball season as a senior.

“I’m glad all these guys are seniors. I’ve been playing with most of them since I was really young and since it is our last year together, I am ready to do something big with them.” Stinnett said.

Brittni also is ready to begin the upcoming season and take on the role as one of the six seniors on the softball team. To Brittni, this offer is more than just an offer and she still has goals to accomplish before she leaves.

“It impacts me and the other kids at Oxford to show that they can do it too,” Brittni Beard said. “[Some goals are] be motivational and let the young girls know that we can do anything if we put our minds to it.”