Phillips Signs With MSU
Blue Devil Softball standout Ashley Phillips beams after signing her letter of intent Monday afternoon to play for Mississippi State University. Offering encouragement were (from left) former coach Shane Brown, former coach Rose Kalisak, Rodney and Darlene Phillips, former coach David Smock, and WVHS softball coach Kendra Bensch. Seated beside her are (left) Tony Hadaway Jr., a cousin, and little brother, Aulton Phillips.
Ashley Phillips in action last season.
By Jack Gurner
Reporter
Ashley Phillips began playing softball while in the third grade. Next year, after a decade of honing her skills, she’ll be playing for Mississippi State.
Phillips, the 17-year-old daughter of Darlene and Rodney Phillips, signed a letter of intent Monday afternoon to play for MSU.
The Lady Blue Devil shortstop said that she loves everything about the game. “It’s a family sport,” she said. “I can relate to my Dad. He loves baseball. It’s something we share. It’s a family sport.”
Phillips said that she and her older brothers practiced all the time with their father. “Now I help him practice with my younger brother.”
All that practice has paid off. She has been on the all-area team since the 8th grade and was named Oxford Eagle Player of the Year in the 10th grade. She was also on the team that won the 2008 National Fastpitch Association Nationals, the Germantown, Tenn., Red Devils.
During the summers she has played shortstop for the Red Devils, which helped her earn the MSU scholarship. “You have to play competitive softball during the summer, not just High School.”
Phillips, said that she is looking forward to attending MSU. Although at one time she thought she might like to go to UCLA. “That was when I was younger. It’s too far. I like my home town and I love my family and I don’t want to be far away from them.”
She added that the reason she chose Mississippi State is because it is close to home. “I want my family and friends to be able to come watch me play. They won’t have to drive a great distance.”
“And, all their softball players graduate,” said Phillips, who is a straight “A” student at WVHS. “This past year they had ten of their players to make the all American academic list.”
In the meantime, she still has her senior year season with the Lady Blue Devils under Coach Kendra Bensch. “I expect a lot. I expect we’ll make the playoffs.”
Phillips acknowledges that she couldn’t have made it this far without a lot of help from family and friends. “I want to thank everyone who has supported me over the years.”
Phillips’ father Rodney Phillips spoke before the signing and thanked the community for all the support Ashley had received. “I know that y’all hear me knocking on the door and know what I have come for.”
Among those on hand for the event, held in the WVHS cafeteria, was Phillips’ former summer coach Rose Kalisak of the Germantown Red Devils. Kalisak, a former Ole Miss assistant coach, praised Phillips for her ability.
Also attending was another summer coach, David Smock of the Southaven Illusions, and former WVHS softball coach Shane Brown.
Current Blue Devil coach Kendra Bensch said that she was looking forward to the upcoming season and hoped that Phillips would be an example for the other players.
Last year Phillips lead the Blue Devils with a .509 batting average. She scored 31 runs and had six home runs.
