The game of softball is one that McComb-native and Southwest sophomore Liberty Gillihan has been involved in for most of her life. And as she prepared to put a bow on her time in Summit as a member of the Lady Bears, she made it official with where she will make her next stop on her journey, signing with Belhaven University.
 
"I'm just really grateful," she said. "I've been given the ability by God to play a sport that a lot of people don't have. I've been given it to play at a junior college and now on to a four year. I'm grateful for the opportunity and I'm going to take every bit of it, enjoy it and make the most of it."
 
Growing up in Pike County, Gillihan was no stranger to Southwest nor Softball Head Coach Shea Johnson. She adds that getting the opportunity to play in Summit is something she is very grateful for.
 
"It's honestly a blessing," she said. "It is five minutes from my house, and I've known Coach Shea since I was a little girl when I took lessons from him. I've been around the campus and to be able to play here and to meet the friends that I have and the coaches that I have, it has just honestly been a true blessing and I'm very grateful for it."
 
Gillihan said that she chose to sign at Belhaven for multiple reasons.
 
"It was just a fit, I went on a visit and there was a connection," she said. "The school is an awesome school education-wise and sports-wise, they win. The coaches are some of the best that I've seen. It is close to home, but it is also far enough that I get to get out of the house and live my own life. I had a few others that were talking to me but when I went to Belhaven I kind of made the decision because it was the right fit for me."
 
For Gillihan, she was also very thankful to share the moment of her signing with her teammates, some of which she has known for nearly her whole life.
 
"You make your life-long friends in JUCO and I believe I've done that," she said. "(They are) some of the girls I've played with since I was five years old. I grew up with them and I learned the person they have become, the player that they have become. God has just blessed me with so many different things: the school, the coaches and the friendships. We all get along, we all love each other, we all support each other no matter what, and I think that is the biggest thing. No matter what, these are people I am going to take with me my entire life and they are going to stand by my side on my wedding day."
 
While she has shined as a middle infielder at Southwest, mostly at the shortstop position, Gillihan said that the plan when she gets to Jackson is to go back out to the outfield, a position she played in high school.
 
"At Belhaven I'll probably go to the outfield which I believe is more of my strong suit," she said. "But I told the coaches, I'm going to go anywhere, wherever the team needs me. And I'm going to work my absolute best at it and achieve a lot of good things, hopefully."
 
For Coach Johnson, Gillihan is like teammate and Alcorn State signee Gabby Carr as she is a local product and one that he is very familiar with and watched for several years prior to Southwest.
 
"I've been fortunate enough to coach her privately as well as follow her career," he said. "Getting to see her play and make it to the next level is always exciting."
 
Coach Johnson adds that he believes Gillihan will thrive at Belhaven.
 
"I think that they are getting a good product and I believe she will get the grades that Belhaven is requiring you to make," he said. "She is the ultimate student athlete. She comes from a family of athletes. Every time a kid signs, you want it to be a good fit. Whether it is DI, DII, DII, NAIA, Liberty could have played at all of those levels. This was the best fit for Liberty."