By Jay Neal

sports@jacksonvilleprogress.com



RUSK — Every fall and spring, standout prep athletes from local high schools sign their national letter of iintent to continue playing their sport of choice at the collegiate level at a school of their choosing.

Many people probably think those that are skilled enough to earn a scholarship have put themselves in that favorable position strictly on the basis of their performance on the high school field or court.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

The latest local high school athlete to earn a scholarship is Rusk High School’s Callie Collins.

Collins has done just about everything one can do pitching a softball and has a multitude of awards and honors to prove it.

Perhaps the one to top them all is the sheet of the paper — the National Letter of Intent — symbolic of a commitment from the University of Texas-Arlington (NCAA Division I) to bestow a rare full-ride (100-percent) scholarship to Collins in exchange for her stepping into the pitching circle and delivering her nearly-unhittable rise ball, fast ball, drop ball, curve ball and screw ball for the Lady Mav softball team for the next four seasons.

Collins’ high school coach, Ashley McElroy-Christian, details what sets Collin apart from the rest.

“Callie has a perfect athlete and pitcher’s mentality,” she said. “She has that killer instinct and disposition of a winner. She knows what it takes to win, and she is willing to do whatever it takes for her team to win.

“She gives her all every time she steps on that mound and sets a great tone for her team to play off of.”

Collins’ scholarship is not an individual achievement, but rather one that is the product of the actions of many.

Collins’ parents, Betty and Darvin, deserve a lot of credit for their daughter’s success.

It is safe to say Darvin Collins has spent countless hours sitting on top of a 5-gallon bucket, catching pitch after pitch — those in the know say he has probably been on the receiving end of nearly 300,000 of his daughter’s pitches through the years.

“We have traveled all over the country, Houston, Colorado, Florida, every summer since Callie was 12 years old for tournaments and travel ball,” Betty Collins said. “We’ve even slept in tents at a national tournament in Kentucky once.”

A tip of the cap in Collins’ behalf also should be given to Bob Phelps of Tyler.

Phelps operates the Texas Sting facility in Tyler and is a noted pitching coach in the region.

A lot of what Collins does in the circle is the result of the teaching and training with Phelps, who has had many of his pupils advance to the next level recently.

“The kid (Collins) is a hard worker. She’s dedicated. She is a good student, and she deserves everything she gets,” Phelps said. “In the realm of softball, a full-ride scholarship is a rarity; there’s just not very many full-rides being handed out.

“Callie is the type that goes out on the field and will be beating you (an opponent) to death and smiling at the same time.”

Collins, who decided on UTA after also fielding offers from Tennessee Tech University, Texas Woman’s University and Angelo State University, currently is playing on Texas Elite, coached by Diane Baker, and has also perfected her skills while playing alongside many other Rusk High School players on Earl Vestal’s travel teams for the past five years.

Many people have been very influential on Collins’ career, but, in the end, it is Collins that has and will continue to make the personal sacrifices needed to accomplish her dreams.

“She (Collins) does whatever it takes to win,” Jones said. “If I tell her she needs to do a couple hundred sit ups or some wrist exercises, she does them, and you just don’t see that dedication and determination in everyone.”

McElroy-Christian said e feels UTA, a member of the Southland Conference, is a good fit for Collins and she expects her to thrive for the Lady Mavs.

“Callie competes against the very best competition during summer club ball and during high school district,” McElroy-Christian said. “Callie has the drive and dedication it takes to not only play at the (collegiate) level, but to finish at that level. I think she will do well at UTA and I think it is a perfect fit for her. She will be good for their program.”