By Caleb Collins
caleb@thenewsobserver.com
Copper Basin High School Class of 2021 alumnus Allie Ballew has chosen to further her academic and athletic careers by signing a scholarship to play softball at Tennessee Wesleyan University.
Ballew played catcher for the Lady Cougars and was a key part in the team’s 12 wins this year. The season highlights included a three game sweep of in-county rival, the Polk County Lady Cats.
According to Gamechanger, Ballew was a structural part of the Lady Cougars offense, posting a .462 batting average, recording 30 hits with two home runs and 13 RBIs.
Ballew played close to 125 innings at catcher and caught eight runners stealing by picking them off.
The Lady Bulldogs went 22-15 overall and 17-9 in conference play for the 2021 season.
Their season came to an end with a loss to Truett McConnell University 5-4 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference Softball Championship Tournament.
Ballew will join the Lady Bulldogs at the university in Athens, Tennessee, this fall.