Ohatchee, AL – Ohatchee’s softball outfielder McFry celebrates signing with Southern Union, ‘my dream as a kid came true’
By Al Muskewitz
Delivering the game-winning hit against a rival in the game that sent her team to the softball regionals last year was the biggest thrill of Whitney McFry’s playing career. Celebrating her signing with Southern Union to continue her playing career is a pretty close 1B.
The Ohatchee outfielder signed with the Bison at the start of the official period a couple weeks ago and celebrated her decision with family and friends Friday at the school.
She had been chasing the dream of playing college softball for a long time and Ohatchee coach Kendall Poe called it “a celebration for everybody” when the senior finally went to Wadley and the Bison offered a full scholarship.
“It was another big (moment),” McFry said. “There’s always the time when you hit your first home run, that was the first one. But, yes, it was a very happy time. I was overly thrilled. I was speechless when (Southern Union coach Ally Silva) told me she was giving me a full ride.
“When I was younger I had always thought about (playing in college), but as I got older I didn’t think it was that much big of a deal. But when she told me, I felt like my dream as a kid came true.”
McFry has been part of a lot of big moments in Ohatchee’s recent softball history, but not many as big as her at-bat against Pleasant Valley in last year’s area tournament.
The Lady Indians couldn’t have had a better hitter up with the winning run in scoring position in the eighth inning of a scoreless elimination game with a lot of tension. The winner was guaranteed a spot in the regionals and the loser was calling it a season. For the year, McFry hit .394 with 29 RBIs and a .495 slugging percentage from the fifth spot in their lineup.
With Ellie Carden at third and one out, McFry ripped a “standard single” into center field to drive home the winning run. There was so much excitement from the Ohatchee camp, first base coach Rebecca Hughes had to remind McFry to touch the bag before celebrating to make her game-winning hit and the winning run official.
“I think that was a conversation I even had with her because I think I called time out and told her that,” Ohatchee coach Kendall Poe said. “She plays high-class travel ball, she always has, so it prepared her for that moment.
“(Lily) Henry was dealing that day. She was doing a really good job, but (McFry) got up and stayed calm and waited for her pitch and drove it right up the middle. That’s what I told her: (If) anybody’s gonna be up here, I’m glad it’s you.”
And when she stepped into the batter’s box, she seized the moment.
“I was thinking I need to do this now so the next person doesn’t have to,” she recalled “When I hit the ball, I honestly thought it wasn’t going to be good. I didn’t know where I even hit it to, but as soon as I hit it and I heard the screams of my team, I was so happy.”
Just as happy as she was Friday celebrating the next step in her playing career. Of course, she’ll have to make even more memories getting through this senior season first.
Cover photo: Ohatchee softball outfielder Whitney McFry (R) shares a light moment with coach Kendall Poe before recreating her signing with Southern Union Friday.
