With the Guthrie High School library filled with green and gold balloons and decorations on Thursday morning, a dream became reality when senior Bailey Shaffer made it official and signed to play college softball at Arkansas Tech.
“The realization of this big, huge goal is finally here is really hard to believe, honestly,” Shaffer said who was decked out in her Arkansas Tech swag.
She was surrounded by teammates and classmates. At the signing table, she was joined by her parents Randy and Dixie Shaffer, GHS coach Chase Langley, former GHS head coach Lee Linsenmeyer, and league coach Donnie Hughes.
“I have been blessed with a hand full of great coaches from the time I was 10-years-old to now and I would not be here without my parents,” Shaffer said. “They (parents) are my support system and give me all the confidence in the world that I need. I wouldn’t’ be able to go this far without them.”
Shaffer, a 2014 All-State selection and District Player of the Year batted .537 with seven home runs for the Lady Jays, helped turn the Guthrie program around with 20-plus win seasons in her four-year career.
“I’m blessed to be part of a program that just took off like it did. When I look back now I am very pleased how everything went. I couldn’t be more blessed without the softball program,” Shaffer said with a big smile.
The Golden Suns, based out of Russellville, Ark., play in the Great American Conference and last season finished with a 31-27 record.
“It’s a very small community down there and something about it feels right. I love it down there,” Shaffer said.
Shaffer says she will likely play in the infield as well as some time in the circle for Arkansas Tech.
“It’s growing (the Tech program). I’m very excited to be a part of something that could become very big one day,” Shaffer concluded with.
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