Post Photo by James Wood
By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
Community senior Alana Tate has always had a dream of playing collegiate softball.
That dream is now a reality.
On Friday, Tate made it official and signed her letter of intent to continue her career at Northeast Alabama Community College.
“This means a lot to me. This is the goal I have worked so hard for so many years. I am going to play college softball,” she said.
Having been a key reason the Community Viqueens have become a state power, Tate’s prowess caught the attention of several schools, but it was NACC that stood out the most.
“Northeast Alabama Community College stuck out to me the most, because I know that coaches Joe Guthrie and Jimmy Kolaitis have a really well known background in this game and I believe that they can take my ability and develop me to my full potential,” she said.
While she’s been a key force in the lineup on both the Community roster and her travel ball teams, Tate says her love for the game goes all the way back to her mom getting her started in rec-league ball.
“My mom is where it all started, pretty much she was a baller and she put me in rec ball as a kid. I just fell in love with the game and the people that are involved in it,” she said.
But it wasn’t just that initial push into the sport, but the countless hours of travel and her family’s support throughout her career that helped land Tate on a college roster.
“Honestly, if it was not for my mom, I would not be the student-athlete I am today. My mom, my grandparents, my coaches from rec-league, middle school, high school, and travel have helped me find not only my athletic potential, but my character,” she said.
“At this point of my career, my mom has done all she can to get me here. Now that I am here, it is my time to continue showing her that all her; hard work, long nights, late games, all the miles she drove, all the money she had spent on hotels, food, equipment and fees, the tears and blood she helped wipe and heal are all the reason I am as great as I am. As I continue to expand my athletic ability and education, I can show her, my grandparents, coaches, and teachers that they are the reasons why I am here.”
Throughout her time with the Purple and Gold, Tate has been part of a process that has turned Community into a perennial state power having twice made the trip to the Class 2A state tournament in the past three years.
“It feels great, after all of the hard work, early morning and late night practices and games; one thing people can say about me is I won’t be outworked. I work hard and it is great to see the results of that work on the field,” she said.
Throughout her time playing with the Viqueens, Tate’s favorite memory came in a walk-off home run against backyard rival Forrest during her freshman year, which was also the first win by Community over Forrest in decades.
With the signing in the books, Tate now says she can focus on having a strong finish to her high school career, with the hopes of landing the program’s first state championship.
“I believe there has been a weight lifted off my shoulders, but the weight I still carry is a job that is not finished—and that’s to win the state championship. The recruiting process was stressful yes, but I have the right people in my corner. They made it a lot easier to be a student and an athlete at the same time. I am definitely looking forward to a successful senior season,” she said.
Although she still has her senior season to play, Tate already has an idea of the career she hopes to pursue once she reaches the college level.
“I will be continuing my education in general studies. I have not completely figured out what I would like to major, but I would probably have to say sports nutrition or around the biologist field,” she said.
While her senior season is still a few months away, Tate said she’s excited to begin her collegiate career.
“This is the end of a chapter and the start of a new beginning at the next level. I knew I could get here, but it’s up to me on how far I go from here,” she said.
Post File Photo by Kacy Kincaid
Alana Tate has been a key component for the Community Viqueen program that has turned into a state power over the past three seasons.