Viqueen senior Carlie Blanton signs her letter of intent to continue her softball career at Marion Military Institute. (Submitted photo)
By CHRIS SIERS
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
Community Viqueen senior Carlie Blanton has always lived at the ball field.
From her youngest days reaching back to when her mom was a coach, she’s spent countless days at the field, growing her love for the game.
“My mom was a coach when I was little, so I grew up and my life was at the ball field. My travel ball journey started when I was like six. I started playing in Alabama,” she said.
As she grew up, her dreams shifted to one day being able to play softball in college.
Recently, she made that dream a reality after she signed her letter of intent to continue her career at Marion Military Institute, in Marion, Alabama.
“I’’m moving away, but I’m very excited to see what I can do,” Blanton said.
Like traditional military service academies, Marion Military Institute offers students a career path that eventually leads into branch of the military.
“You can pick the leadership route or go the military route, but I can figure that out after my two years there. I’m probably going the military route,” she said.
But unlike traditional military academies, students would attend basic training and fulfill their military obligations following their years in Madison.
When it came time to choosing a school, Blanton knew she wanted something with a small and cozy atmosphere like that at Community and being a small school, Madison Military Institute was a perfect fit to continue her career.
“I knew from the start I didn’t want to go to a big school and it’s a small school like Community. I love it there. There’s only like 300 students,” she said.
Blanton has been a staple in the Viqueen lineup, making a living as the Purple and Gold backstop throughout her high school career.
“September 1 of your junior year, that’s when coaches can contact you. I guess just emailing and putting your face out there was important for me. I went to a camp for this school when I was there and he contacted me back after that,” she said.
While she’s still nearly 10 months from beginning her freshman season, Clanton hopes her work and preparation can land her a spot in the starting lineup.
Blanton has spent her time with the Viqueens as the reliable backstop, in addition to being a key part of the Community batting order. (Post File Photo by Chris Siers)
“I’m definitely going to have to work, but I think I have a good chance of starting when I get there,” she said.
With her college path set in stone, now Blanton is focusing on preparing for her senior season, as well as preparing for her upcoming college career.
“We’re working out through the school, but also I’m trying to improve my skills more until I get to college,” she said.
With the stresses that come with picking a college out of the way, being able to focus on her game is a huge part of her senior season preparation.
“It’s big. In the recruiting process, you’re always nervous playing in front of coaches, but now it’s like a weight lifted off your shoulders,” she said.
While Blanton was a key reason why the Viqueens earned a pair of trips to the Class 2A state tournament over the past few seasons, her favorite memory came playing in district and region championship games against backyard rival Forrest.
“This year, we didn’t make it to state, but we wont that district championship, beating Forrest. And then winning the region was big because that’s our rival school,” she said.
Blanton plans to pursue a degree in nursing and hopes to be a nurse in the military after graduating college.
Marion Military Institute competes in the Alabama Community College Conference.
