By EDWARD SEVERN, Staff Writer
LYFORD — Lyford Lady Bulldogs shortstop Alyssa Garcia signed with Our Lady of the Lake University on Wednesday.
The NAIA school out of San Antonio will be getting not only a great athlete, but a great student. Garcia is currently top of her class and hopes to study either biology or kinesiology while playing for the Saints.
“I am really excited,” Garcia said. “I fell in love with the environment over there. It is a place that feels like home. That is what I am most excited about.
“I have been able to talk to a lot of coaches and players. It is a great program and growing in a positive way. It is something I want to help build.”
Said Alyssa’s father, Pete: “We are extremely blessed, and we thank God for everything. Her faith has shown in everything she does, we are extremely proud of her. She is the one that puts in this work, along with others that have helped her like her coaches. We are extremely blessed and proud of this opportunity.”
Lyford softball coach Albert Garza has had the opportunity to coach Garcia since she was a 4-year-old hitting off a tee and has grown with Garcia and other players on the Lyford team as he coaches them at the high school level.
“I made a promise to those kids that I will eventually coach them in high school, and it came true,” Garza said. “Alyssa is going to join my daughter at OLLU, and it is an amazing opportunity for Alyssa and the program here at Lyford.
“Alyssa is great competitor, good work ethic and a non-stop motor, she is going to excel in anything she does,” he added. “When she first started out she played in the outfield, but she has grown into becoming a shortstop. She has great range, arm and is a student of the game.”
This upcoming season, Alyssa hopes the Lady Bulldogs can build off of their success from last year, when they reached the second round of the playoffs.
“Last season we lost to a really good program in the second round, and we hope that we can build from last season’s success this season,” she said.