Land to join Lady Diamond Warriors
You wouldn’t be able to tell Lena Land achieved her dream Wednesday by signing a softball scholarship.
Why?
She is always flashing a brilliant smile due to a super positive outlook on life.
That outlook paid off Wednesday as family and friends joined her when she signed to play softball for East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss.
“Today is a special day,” said Milton Athletic Director Murray Rutledge. “Last night Lena scored the winning run in the first inning against Tate and now she is getting a great opportunity.
“She is a great girl and is very deserving of this opportunity.”
What many might not realize is the Lady Warrior she is before even signing with ECCC to play softball.
Since arriving at Milton High School Land has endured two back surgeries for scoliosis, but that or the rods in her back have not slowed her from reaching for this goal.
“This has always been my dream,” said Land, who endured back surgeries in 2007 and 2008. “It can be a little hard, especially when it is really cold, but I have learned to do what I have to do.”
Despite her friendly personality on and off the field, Land did have one problem in an effort to achieve this dream, not knowing how to talk to coaches.
“I went to softball camps at the University of Central Florida and Florida State University, but I didn’t know how to talked to the coaches about being interested in playing at the next level,” Land said. “Talking to coaches about softball is a lot different than what my brother (Dustin) went through playing football.”
Well she went to a softball showcase in Mississippi and the coaches started calling her with Land picking the opportunity offered by East Central Community College.
“The coaches and girls are just like a family,” Land said. “I am looking forward to going there and then after two years get the opportunity to play softball at a bigger college.”
With Land’s talent that should not pose much of a problem according to Milton softball coach Jeff Larson.
“Lena is a good player,” Larson said. “She is that premier player we look for here at Milton.”
But it wasn’t just Lena the player that interested ECCC coach Scott Hill into offering Land a scholarship, it was the person.
“When I talked to Coach Larson the first question I ask him was what kind of person Lena was,” Hill said. “I had a real good idea what kind of player she was, but I wanted to make sure she was the right type of person we want for our program.
“And I expect her to fit in real well with our program at ECCC.”
ECCC looks to be a program many young ladies want to be a part of as they are now 19-2-1 so far this season.
