Four Gravette athletes sign with college teams
GRAVETTE — The commons area at Gravette High School was filled with excitement Thursday afternoon, Nov. 14, as family members, classmates and friends gathered to celebrate with four of the school’s star athletes who were signing to play with college teams. Slide shows showing highlights of each of the players’ careers were shown preceding each of the signings.
Separate sign-up tables were set up for each player, with player jerseys and equipment, photos of past accomplishments, balloons and a congratulatory cookie at each table.
First to sign his letter of intent was Mason Dagley, who signed to play baseball with the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. Dagley has been a threeyear starter for the Lions and earned all-conference honors last season. Despite suffering a nagging injury during football season, Dagley was an outstanding defender in center field, where he is expected to play in college.
“Mason has done anything and everything I’ve asked him to do,” said Bryan Bearden, head baseball coach. “We’re going to miss him. Fort Smith is going to be having a great kid and a great ballplayer.”
Gravette softball coach Taos Jones said the event was “a big day for Gravette, a big day for softball and a big day for each of the families” gathered there. He noted that each of the athletes was an example of leadership for their team, their school and their community and pointed out that this is the first year that Gravette has fielded three all-state softball players.
As lead-off hitter last season, Gabbi Scott was the first of the softball players to sign her letter of intent. Scott, who signed with the University of Central Arkansas Bears in Conway, was a threeyear starter and two-time all-state selection in the outfield for the Lady Lions. She batted a teambest .469 with 39 stolen bases and 37 runs scored last season. She had two games with five stolen bases.
Second to sign was Cally Kildow who signed with the University of Arkansas Razorbacks, where she had verbally committed to play as a freshman. Kildow was a two-time allstate selection and a 2017 Max Preps All-American and earned USA Elite All-American honors in 2014. She earned all-conference honors in basketball as a sophomore. A broken tibia and fibula suffered in the state basketball quarterfinals caused her to miss her sophomore softball season but she made a remarkable recovery and went 4-5 with seven saves and a 2.98 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 61 innings last season.
Coach Jones said Kildow has helped put the Gravette softball program on the map. “Cally really can do it all,” he said. “She’s a multi-dimensional athlete.”
Rounding out the trio of softball signees was outstanding pitcher Bailey Elmore, who stepped in when Kildow missed her sophomore season and led the Lady Lions to the state finals. Elmore signed with the Southwest Baptist University Bearcats in Bolivar, Mo. Elmore was a threeyear starter and a twotime all-state selection. She finished 10-3 with 3 saves, a 2.14 ERA and 96 strikeouts in the circle last season. She added three home runs and 18 RBIs at the plate last year.
Refreshments of cake and punch were served after the signing ceremony.