CHS softball players sign letters of intent
Pictured surrounded by their Clinton High School softball teammates are (l to r) Hayden-Leigh Holifield, Estrella Constancio and Makenzie Cooley, who recently signed collegiate national letters of intent.
A jam-packed Clinton High School (CHS) Media Center teemed with excitement last month, as family, friends, coaches and teammates witnessed three CHS softball players — Estrella Constancio, Makenzie Cooley and Hayden-Leigh Holifield — sign collegiate national letters of intent (NLI). The signing day festivities were a culmination of dedication on the softball diamond and inside the classroom, according to Clinton Head Softball Coach Rachel Hurley.
“The biggest thing is how proud of them, and I’m proud of the work that they’ve done on the field,” Hurley said. “I think the most impressive thing is off the field, all of them have above 3.5 GPAs, and they’ll finish the year [in the] top fifty in their class. I think that goes to show that they’re hard work not only extends to what they’re able to do on the softball field, but in the classroom. They are showing what you do athletically can only help you academically.”
Constancio, who received first-team, all-district 2-7A honors, inked with Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas. The senior played in 27 games last season. She held a .480 batting average with a .939 slugging percentage. Constancio contributed 47 hits, seven home runs, 43 RBIs and 38 runs.
Cooley, a first-team, all-district 2-7A honoree, inked with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston. The senior played in 27 games last season with a .407 batting average and a .709 slugging percentage. Cooley tallied 35 hits, three home runs, 32 RBIs,and 36 runs. On the base path, Cooley grabbed 10 stolen bases.
Holifield signed her NLI with Meridian Community College. She received second-team, all-district 2-7A honors during the 2024 season. Holifield’s spring campaign was cut short by a broken hand, but she was still able to contribute statistical numbers. In 16 games, the senior tallied a .227 batting average with a .643 on-base average. She had 11 RBIs and scored 12 runs.
“I think it goes to show that if you believe you can do something and if you put in the work, then anything’s possible,” Hurley said. “These three have honestly busted their tails day in and day out – weekends, nights. They’re always in the cages hitting, at lessons, playing extra ball over the weekend or in the summer, and they’ve just showed that if you honestly believe in something, you can get it done. I appreciate their efforts.”
