While Bryton Melvin and Mariah Holt excelled in baseball and softball for Milton High School, both will take their on the field talents to Jefferson Davis Community College after recently signing sports scholarships with the school − Melvin for baseball and Holt for softball.
In her sophomore and junior years at Milton, Holt was sidelined with injuries to her ACL and meniscus. However, Holt made a comeback as shortstop for the Lady Panther Softball Team in her final season.
“Coming off the injury she had, most people would have quit and would have not come back and done baseball or softball, but she did and she knew she wasn’t guaranteed a starting role but she worked herself into one and continued to do that until the final game of the year,” said John Norton, an assistant coach with the team.
Holt credited her success to hard work ethic.
“I definitely learned that hard work pays off a lot, no matter what you do. I set my mind to stuff and accomplished it when I think a lot of people didn’t think I would,” Holt said. “That was just big for me.”
Holt played on a varsity roster which made history for the school by winning two consecutive district championships in fast pitch softball in addition to making it into the second round of the playoffs.
“My team was awesome, so that really helped a lot,” she said.
In addition to seeing a familiar face on the JDCC campus in Brewton, Alabama, Holt is looking forward to playing alongside another MHS graduate in Hannah Brake. In the meantime, Holt said plans to put herself in the best possible position for her new team.
“I actually have a workout that (JDCC) sent me, I will be doing a lot of running, a lot of lifting weights and trying to stick to that so I don’t get behind when I get there,” she said.
Bryton Melvin celebrates signing a baseball scholarship with Jefferson Davis Community College, among family members at the Milton High School auditorium. While Melvin has committed to playing baseball for the college, he will be attending the school with fellow MHS graduate Mariah Holt who signed a softball scholarship with the same school.
Melvin also plans to remain active over the summer, through baseball practice and possibly participating in a travel ball team.
George Blake, the MHS head baseball coach, said Melvin’s work ethic is only part of what makes him such a unique baseball talent.
“He would always work hard at the game and now he is getting rewarded for it,” Blake said. “He was blessed with some tools in the arm he has got and I have seen that since day one.”
In addition to hitting at bat, Melvin served as an defensive talent at both pitching and playing third base for the Panthers. Blake believes Melvin will only benefit JDCC’s baseball program.
“Defensively, he can get it done at that level,” Blake said.”With his work ethic, I believe he can hit; he is a strong kid and a powerful kid and he loves to compete.”
Melvin, who started in the past three seasons on the varsity team, said he is appreciative of what he has learned from Blake and his coaching staff at Milton.
“They are amazing coaches, I am just thankful to have them (watch) my back,” Melvin said.
Melvin said he made a lot of memories on the team while playing alongside his teammates.
“We made a lot of memories, my favorite one was beating Pace here, 2-0, and I pitched to close the 6th or 7th inning,” he said.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Milton: Students sign baseball, softball scholarships with Jefferson Davis Community College