BHS grad signs with Southwest Tennessee

BHS’ Laken Bragwell signs to play softball for Southwest Tennessee Community College.

By Macy Reeves for the FCT

After recovering from an injury prohibiting her from playing college softball, Laken Bragwell is finally going to be able to play for Southwest Tennessee Community College.

Bragwell, an all around softball player, was scouted by Keith Gentry from the college. Gentry was looking for a pitcher and was told to check out Bragwell. He said he quickly realized that Bragwell was injured from the way she was pitching. Gentry offered Bragwell a spot on the team after her injury was healed.

“He called me, and I had been wanting to play in college. Then I just kind of fell in love with the school,” said Bragwell.

While waiting on her injury to heal, Bragwell attended Northwest-Shoals Community College. After her signing Jan. 22, she will now transfer to Southwest Tennessee Community College for the next semester.

“She couldn’t play last year, so I asked her about sitting out this year and playing next year. She needed to be fully recovered. I’m hoping to get her out and started pitching again this summer,” said Gentry.

Although she said she’s a little nervous about moving out of the state and into a new city, Bragwell said she is also really excited about playing. While her past coaches are missing her, they also are excited for her to play college ball.

“She was always focused on the job at hand,” said Clint Sikes, a pitching coach at Belgreen who worked with Bragwell.

While playing for Belgreen High School, Bragwell was part of the team when BHS won the area championship.

“We’re going to miss her this year. She was our team MVP, team leader. She loved the game,” said Chris Scott, Bragwell’s coach while she still attended high school.

Two other girls signed to play softball from BHS from Bragwell’s year, in 2013, and she is the only one to sign this year.