Wallace State softball’s Ledbetter, Hammonds sign with UNA, UAH respectively

HANCEVILLE, ALA. – Wallace State softball sophomores Brittany Ledbetter and Amber Hammonds each signed letter of intents recently to continue their collegiate careers at UNA and UAH respectively.
There may be no player more mentally strong on Wallace State’s roster than Ledbetter, the team’s sophomore ace on the mound.
Ledbetter’s family lost all of their possessions in a house fire last month in Tuscaloosa County, yet she has persevered and been a steady force on the hill.
Ledbetter has a 14-8 record and a 1.84 ERA, striking out 138 batters in 129 1/3 innings. She’s also contributed at the plate, hitting .295 with three homers and 32 RBIs.
“I’ve been motivated on the field to pitch well for my family and to give them something to be proud of,” Ledbetter said. “The support we’ve received has been beyond anything I could have imagined. We’ve been very grateful.”
Ledbetter is proud to remain a Lion when she joins UNA, which won a national championship last season and is in the process of transitioning into a Division I program.
“It’s a great feeling to know where I’m going next season. I’m glad they think enough of me as a softball player,” said Ledbetter, whose father also overcame a battle with cancer recently. “It’s meant the world to me to be as strong as I’ve been and the team has been. We know a target is on our back, but I’m  excited to see how far we can go this season.”
As a freshman at Wallace State, Ledbetter went 19-5 with a 3.32 ERA in 46 appearances.
Meanwhile, Hammonds, a two-year starter in center field for the Lions, is hitting .377 this season with 11 homers and 36 RBIs. She’s also added a team-high 14 steals for the 10-time Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) champions and two-time national champs.
“I’ve always dreamed of playing softball for a four-year college, and I’m excited to get that chance,” said Hammonds, a graduate of Hewitt-Trussville. “I’m also excited to see what’s in store for us over the next few weeks. We’re ready to defend our conference championship and make it back to the national tournament.”
As a freshman, Hammonds was named to the ACCC/Region 22 2^nd team outfield and was an ACCC North 1^st-team outfield selection after hitting .318 with five homers, 28 RBIs and a team-high 28 stolen bases.
Ledbetter and Hammonds join Taylor Beshears as sophomores on the team to ink with four-year colleges. Beshears previously signed with Jacksonville State.
“Having Brittany and Amber sign is a special time for our program. Both are great representatives of our program and the college. We are really excited for them. Any time you can get money to move on to pay for your education and play something you love, it’s special,” said Wallace State first-year softball coach A.J. Daugherty. “Brittany Ledbetter definitely deserves some good news. Brittany and Amber both put in the hard work that yields the results of signing four-year scholarships. They love what they do, and it shows in how they work for it.”
Wallace State softball (31-16, 16-4 ACCC) hosts Southern Union on Tuesday at 2 p.m. for the Lions’ home finale.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit www.athletics.wallacestate.edu.