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Carolyne Garcia is heading to the next level to play softball. The LaGrange High senior is heading to Southern Union to continue her academic and athletic career starting next fall.

“I stepped on the campus and I was just like, I love it here. The coaches had the desire to win. I toured multiple campuses, I had multiple offers from other JUCO schools and stuff, but Southern  Union just felt like home,” Garcia said. “My sister is expecting soon, and knowing that it’s only 30 minutes from my house, I was like, this is the spot for me.”

Garcia has been a key kid for the LaGrange varsity team since she was a freshman and played up on the JV team as an eighth grader at Gardner Newman. It has been a meteoric rise for Garcia. The four-year letterman made the All-Region second team as a freshman before making the first team in her final three years with the Grangers. 

“I was very grateful to be able to be recognized as that and be able to show my strengths and coaches and other teams knowing that I have the ability to be able to do that means a lot to me,” Garcia said.

With Garcia at first base, the Grangers felt secure on defense and knew they had a power hitter in the lineup. During her time as a Granger García hit .418 with 138 hits, 19 doubles, 15 home runs and 99 RBIs.

“She put up some amazing stats in her four years here,” LaGrange coach Craig Mobley said.

Garcia’s impact on the team went well beyond the stats.

“She was there every single day in practice. She never missed a game. And the greatest thing is the smile that she had on her face when she would play in a game. It wasn’t serious. She enjoyed it. It made my heart feel good that she went to state and did all the stuff and just really had a good time with her,” Mobley said. 

As a senior, Garcia helped the team make an Elite Eight appearance and one of the best seasons in program history.

“It was stressful, there were 13 seniors, so there was constant competition for spots and even though I had played first base my first three years my spot still had to be earned,” Garcia said. “It was still such a memorable season and we made memories as a team that I will never forget.” 

Garcia, a multi-time all-region player at first base, found herself occupying other spots on the diamond this season. The senior occasionally filled in at catcher and third base.

“It was nerve racking at times, but I grew up catching so it was something I could do and I wanted to do whatever I could to help the team win,” Garcia said. 

It will not be a long road trip for Gracia’s former coaches and teammates to see her play in college as Southern Union is located just across the border in Wadley, Alabama. 

“I’m still stuck on high school softball. I’m still not really over it, but seeing all the other girls commit, sending my letter of intent or my coaches talking to me like I’m a player now. I think it’s set in a little bit that I’m gonna walk onto a field and play college softball soon,” Garcia said.