Crystal Sellers spent her entire high school career at South Effingham High. But heading to Chattahoochee Valley Community College will have a home-like feel to it.
The Lady Mustangs senior catcher signed with CVCC on Friday afternoon to continue her softball career at the Phenix City, Ala.-school. Her father’s family and her maternal grandmother live in the Phenix City area.
“It’s kinda back home, so it was a plus for me,” Sellers said.
CVCC coach Steve O’Steen watched Sellers play in two postseason tournaments and came away impressed.
“Not a single ball went by her,” he said.
The Lady Pirates, who play in the Alabama Community College Conference, went 25-25 last season, and O’Steen said the difference in many games was the number of passed balls and wild pitches his team surrendered.
“She’s the strongest catcher I’ve had,” he said. “We had our best season ever and we lost so many games on passed balls and wild pitches. Game after game, we played great ball, other than pitching and catching.”
South Effingham coach Donnie Ussery said Sellers leaves a big void to fill behind the plate for the Mustangs. But her job was more than that for a team that is a regular at the Elite Eight.
“This is the best feeling I have in the world as a coach,” Ussery said. “I’m very proud of Crystal. I’m going to miss my general. She kept everybody in line. She knew where everybody had to be. She was a leader on the field and off the field. She’s been a big part of the puzzle.”
O’Steen also noticed how Sellers took charge of the defense.
“In a short period of time, there was no doubt she was leading the field,” he said. “Finding a high school catcher who can set up batters and call her own game is rare. From the first time I saw her, she stood out above everybody else. Every ball that was hit or fouled off, she knew where the ball was. I don’t know that you can teach that.”
Ussery also remarked on Sellers’ desire to win.
“I don’t know if he knows what kind of player he has,” he said of O’Steen. “I don’t know if he has another player on his team as competitive as Crystal. She has unlimited potential. She has not reached her peak yet.”
Sellers credited her father for getting her started and her first recreation ball coach, Mike Lescio, for picking her and believing in her. South Effingham Middle coach Jona Downs got her ready for varsity ball and Mike Goulet gave her tips. She also credited her SEHS coaches, assistant Angie Parker and current head coach Ussery.
“If it was not for them, I would not be here signing with CVCC,” she said.
Sellers has her sights set on playing at a four-year school once her two years at CVCC are up. It’s one of her 100 goals.
“All my goals are not done yet,” she said.
