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SPORTS
SV's Blanton inks with WVSU
Brittney Blanton of Spring Valley bats against Cabell Midland during the softball game on Thursday, May 6, 2010, at Cabell Midland.
Purchase this photoSPRING VALLEY — While trying to decide on a college to continue her softball career, Spring Valley High School catcher Brittney Blanton thought of many factors.
However, there was one that stood out about West Virginia State University that she just couldn’t get out of her head. That’s why Thursday morning, Blanton signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the NCAA Division II school in Institute, W.Va.
“They are a very good ball team and they have the work ethic that I like,” Blanton said. “There wasn’t a person there that didn’t dive for a ball. I feel like I can make a pretty big impact up there.”
Blanton had a large impact on the success of the Timberwolves in recent years both at the plate and behind it.
Her senior year has admittedly been a bit of a struggle with Spring Valley starting the year 3-15 against a brutal schedule.
The adversity taught Blanton a lesson.
“In college, they aren’t going to put up with someone who is frustrated all the time, so I’ve learned to keep my cool better and just play my heart out,” Blanton said. “I’ve learned that I can’t do it all by myself and I’ve started trusting my teammates a lot more this year.”
The building of that trust turned Spring Valley’s year around. Heading into Thursday night’s sectional play, the Timberwolves had won nine of their last 12 games to climb to 12-18.
Blanton had the luxury of learning from first-year coach Allison Webb, whose path is strikingly similar.
Webb was a standout catcher at Wayne High School and played at Marshall University.
“The big message from me is that she has to understand she controls the field as a catcher,” Webb said. “I’ve needed her to take that role and run with it. We’ve worked a lot on the mental aspects of the game — situational things and seeing things before they happen. She’s doing much better, but she still has those little things to improve on if she wants to go from a good catcher to a great catcher.”
Blanton will benefit from staying close to home where she has the support of her friends and family.
She said it was an important factor as she mulled over offers from schools in Illinois, Alabama and Georgia along with Fairmont State and WVU Tech.
“I can’t cook, so that’s a big factor,” Blanton said with a smile. “I’m really glad that my friends and family can all come up and watch me. If I get hurt, I’m 45 minutes away from my parents so they can be there.”
At West Virginia State, she will join former teammate Alexa Macri, who just completed her freshman year. The Yellow Jackets finished 34-23 this season.
