By Brenda Johnson
Special to The Tidewater News

PETERSBURG
On Sunday, Feb. 22, three players from the Southampton Storm 18U Gold team signed to play collegiate softball for Richard Bland College.

Katelyn Cobb, Sierra Johnson and Morgan Whitley will continue to play softball together this fall and will join two Storm alumni at Richard Bland College under Head Coach Martha Covington and Associate Head Coach Jennie Harp. Cobb is a pitcher and outfielder, Johnson is a first baseman and power hitter and Whitley is a third baseman and shortstop. Katelyn, Sierra and Morgan are on Southampton Storm 18U Gold, which is coached by Sean Wade, Cynthia Cobb, Bill Beale and Clif Johnson.

Katelyn Cobb is from Newsoms and is the daughter of Cynthia Cobb. She is a senior at Southampton High School and will finish her school ball career playing for head coach Amy Davis and the Lady Indians. Katelyn is an honor student and is involved with several clubs and organizations at Southampton High School. She got her start coming up through the Newsoms recreation league program starting with t-ball and finishing with 16U softball. Katelyn began playing travel softball in 2010. She has guest-played for several local travel teams and is one of the three captains on the 18U Gold team. In 2013, Katelyn was diagnosed with a second-degree heart block with irregular beats and had to have a pacemaker inserted to correct this disorder. She was unable to play softball for eight weeks, but that did not stop her from going to travel ball practices and games. Katelyn aspires to become a physical therapist after attending Richard Bland.

Sierra Johnson is from Capron and is the daughter of Clif and Brenda Johnson. Sierra is a senior at Southampton High School and will be playing her final year of school ball for coach Davis. She is an honor student, a member of numerous clubs and organizations and has played four years of field hockey, three years of basketball and three years of softball at Southampton High School. She began playing softball for Capron-Drewryville Athletic Association in 2007 after moving to Capron from Suffolk and played her final recreation league softball game in 2013. In 2010, she began her travel ball career by playing for Southampton Storm; where she is one of the three captains on the 18U Gold team. Sierra would like to become a nurse practitioner after she receives an associate’s degree from Richard Bland.

Morgan Whitley is from Franklin and is the daughter of Jennifer Whitley and granddaughter of Harry and Kathy Whitley. She is a senior at Windsor High School and will play her final year of school ball under head coach Sean Wade. Morgan played t-ball and softball for Windsor and Smithfield recreation leagues. Beginning travel softball in 2008, Morgan has played for the Lady Bombers, the Lady Tides, Hampton Roads Warriors and Southampton Storm. Richard Bland College is the first step in Morgan’s collegiate plan; she would like to become a non-invasive cardiologist.

Cobb, Johnson and Whitley will bring the total number of Storm Alumni that has gone on to play collegiate softball to 12 in the mere five years that Southampton Storm has been in existence. Storm Alumni are currently playing at Bridgewater, Daytona State, Ferrum , Richard Bland, Sweetbriar and Virginia State. The goal of Southampton Storm Fastpitch Inc. is to provide an atmosphere that allows for an enjoyable, fun and rewarding experience for all players, parents and coaches. Storm will assist players in developing advanced fastpitch skills and acquire the qualities of a complete player — a strong work ethic, disciplined focus to detail, positive mental attitude and sportsmanship.

For more information about Southampton Storm Fastpitch Inc., please take the time to visit their website at www.southamptonstormfastpitch.com.