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Cougars Have Big Early Signing Day

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By DAREK SHARP dsharp@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 26, 2008

PLANT CITY - Having three college-bound softball players on the team might bring up an interesting problem for Durant High coach Matt Carter this spring.

"I can see a little case of 'senioritis' setting in, but I'm not too worried about that," Carter said. "I think this is a good group of kids."

Indeed, three Durant players will already have their college plans secured by the time the season rolls around in February. Kelsey Horton, Corrine Gordon and Kelly Jones all took care of that recently during Early Signing period.

All major college sports except football went through Early Signing starting Nov. 14. Football has its traditional National Signing Day the first Wednesday in February.

Durant was one of the more busy area high schools, with the three softball players signing, along with tennis standout Kara Cecil and baseball player Ty Sullivan.

Sullivan verbally committed to the University of West Florida in Pensacola. Sullivan was the top pitcher on the Cougar staff last year and earned raves during the summer playing with Chet Lemon's Juice 18-under all-star squad.

Cecil had previously given Ohio State a verbal commitment. This is her first year at Durant after coming up through Lakeland Christian School.

As one of the top youth players in the entire state, Cecil will bring an immediate force to the Cougars tennis team this spring.

As for softball, the Horton signing was known since last year when she verbally committed, but last Friday's signing made it official.

Gordon's decision to attend Florida A&M was no surprise, considering older sister Destiny was a pitcher for the Rattlers. And last week Gordon's younger sister Brielle, a junior at Durant, gave her verbal commitment to - yes - FAMU.

"Corinne will probably have a much bigger year this year, considering she hasn't had much playing time with us only due to the fact her positions third base and catcher have been taken up until now," said Carter.

Also, Kelly Jones has signed with Rollins College in a bit of a switcheroo. Rollins was Jones' first choice but did not quite have the scholarship money, so Jones originally was going to sign with a smaller program, Palm Beach Atlantic.

"But she went back and re-took the SATs, her scores came back and she got the call from Rollins," Carter said. "They said that changed everything, and they were able to squeeze out the extra scholarship money, I guess."

Last year, Kristin Jones (no relation to Kelly) and Sara DeMuth were Durant's senior leaders, both earning scholarships to AugustaUniversity in Georgia. Durant reached the state semifinals played in Plant City.

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