DAPHNE, Alabama — Daphne super-slugging senior infielder Peyton Grantham signed her letter of intent to play softball for the University of Alabama in a ceremony at Trojan Hall Thursday. She plans to major in exercise science.

The right handed hitter/thrower takes a career batting average of .437 into her senior season and hopes to build on 44 home runs, 129 RBIs and 39 walks already on the books. She also has a Division-I arm from anywhere on the diamond with a fielding percentage of .972. She has logged most of her playing time on the left side of the infield at third base or shortstop but has also played second and first should the Crimson Tide need.

Grantham will be a fifth-year starting infielder who played a number of varsity innings as a 12-year-old seventh grader after she converted from baseball to softball. But said signing with the reigning national champs is like a dream come true and added a big thanks to her family and high school coach.

“I wanted to play baseball in high school,” she said. “But after I tried it, I really liked softball more and more. I played baseball until I was 13 and I enjoyed playing both for a while. Now I’m so glad I did decide to go with softball. I love this sport and now getting to play for coach (Patrick) Murphy at Alabama (Crimson Tide head coach) and be a part of all that is like just amazing. That’s been my dream since about ninth grade and my parents have supported me so much and always encouraged me to go for it. They took me to all the camps and made sure I had all the right equipment and kept up with all my stats. And of course coach (L.T.) Yelding (Daphne head coach) helping me to be my best. He has really been a big part of all this.”

Growing up with an older brother who helped her by pushing her to keep up also reinforced a natural competitive streak as well.

“Oh yeah, Braxton and I use to play all the time and he never did take it easy on me when he pitched to me or threw to me. But I wanted it that way. I think it helped make a better player and he's one of my biggest supporters, too.”

Yelding said he thought her talent would take her far as well when he saw her playing baseball.

“She was obviously very good and so I kept an eye on her. At first I thought she was kidding me when she said she was going to be the first girl to play baseball at Daphne (High School) then I realized she was serious and she could have done it. But I kept after her and I think she made the right decision finally and came over and tried it (softball) and of course was a natural all the way.”

Yelding said Grantham got noticed by some assistant coaches from Alabama while playing in some summer showcase tournaments after her freshman season.

“Apparently, she impressed them so much they told coach Murphy and so he decided to see for himself the following year after her sophomore year. And ever since he said he was going to keep up with Peyton. And of course I had other schools ask about her, but when they found out she was going to go with the Tide it kind of settled down. But that’s where she has wanted go anyway. So we're all just happy for her it worked out.”

Grantham was a seventh grader when the Lady Trojans finished second in the state and wants to return to the Elite Eight state tournament in the spring.

“We have really been working hard to get back to state and that's our goal,” she said. “The last couple of years we have been pretty young, but we also have been getting better and coming together more and more as a team. So we're excited about the season coming up but know we still have to work on some things, but you always do. Just practice, practice, practice and then make a good run at it.”