By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Anna Cheatham isn’t quite ready to hang up her cleats.
A four-year starter for the Union City softball team who recently played her final high school game, Cheatham signed scholarship papers on Wednesday to continue her career on the next level at St. Charles (Mo.) Community College.
Cheatham, a pitcher/first baseman for the Lady Tornadoes, said she knew immediately following the final out in UC’s last game a week ago that she had more softball left in her heart.
“I thought to myself, ‘there’s no way this is the last time I’m going to put on my cleats,’” she said, reflecting on Union City’s loss in the district tournament. “I was 100 percent sure I didn’t have softball out of my system.
“Actually, I’d decided at the beginning of the season that I wanted to see what was out there for me as far as playing in college. Coach (Stevie) Gossett asked the seniors at the beginning of the year if any of us had any thoughts of playing on the next level. He contacted several colleges, and we sent out video to the ones who showed interest in me.
“St. Charles has a beautiful campus. It’s much nicer and cleaner than most other community colleges. I really do believe I’m going to fit in well and be happy there.”
Cheatham was recruited by the Cougars as a pitcher but will also get a chance to earn playing time in the field at first base with her productive bat.
She played three full seasons and one game of a COVID-shortened fourth year for UCHS and hit .369 for her career with seven home runs and 73 runs batted in. Cheatham was instrumental in the Lady Tornadoes’ state tournament run her junior campaign, pounding five dingers with 37 RBIs while sporting a .450 batting average.
In the circle, she went 15-8 with 131 strikeouts in 129 innings and an ERA of just over 3.00 in her two years.
Gossett, who just completed his first season at the Purple and Gold helm and led UC to a 17-12 record, said he encouraged Cheatham to “enjoy the journey because when it’s over it’s over.
“I told our seniors I’d do my best to help them find a place to continue playing if that’s what they wanted. The worst thing in the world to live with is regret. I didn’t want anyone to get older and look back and wish they’d have kept playing.
“I think Anna just decided she had a desire to keep playing and I’m happy she’s going to get that opportunity.”
SCC is located about 20 minutes from St. Louis in Cottleville, Mo., and is a Division I member of the National Junior College Athletic Association and the Missouri Junior College Athletic Association. The school opened its main campus in 1987 and has an enrollment of more than 5,700 students, according to its website.