Pleasant Valley, AL Pleasant Valley, AL Pleasant Valley junior most recent to get all in Gadsden State’s Softball revival. She’ll be graduating in May and begin her college career in the spring.

By Joe Medley

AFFORDABLE VALLEYGracee Ward wasn’t content to celebrate her decision to play softball with Gadsden State Community College.

The Pleasant Valley junior also announced in a sort of way that she’s leaving high school in the early morning. This softball season is set to be her last season as Raider.

Okay, so it wasn’t all that shocking, but she’ll leave in the earliest possible time. As with any good catcher she’s one step ahead of her peers.

“The the summer before my ninth grade year, I was taking two classes in my 10th grade before,” she said. “So that was last season (sophomore year) I took two classes in the 11th grade, and two classes in 10th grade.

Pleasant Valley’s Gracee Ward celebrates her commitment to Gadsden State Community College on Thursday, in Pleasant Valley High’s library. (Photo taken by Joe Medley)

“Then I attended an online class during the school year last year, and I then took a course in the summer this year. Then, I’m in all of my senior classes in the coming year.”


A spread from Gracee Ward’s dedication ceremony on Thursday. (Photo from Joe Medley)

Following a state-tournament place, Pleasant Valley will get another season of Ward’s performance behind the plate as well as in the box of the batter. She hit .392 with an .488 on-base percentage and three home runs. She also had 38 RBIs and 12 doubles.

It was the season that allowed her to recover the lost ground she suffered through an injury-related break an freshman. An ankle injury restricted her from participating in the regional tournament and the Raiders did not advance to the regional.

Ward began playing on the junior-varsity team in seventh grade.

“She’s been working extremely hard to get to where she is now,” Pleasant Valley coach David Bryant said. “She’s an outstanding athlete who is a leader on the field and a great pupil in school.

“She’s one of those typical Pleasant Valley girls. She’s a great player but she’s also a more likable person.”

Gadsden State reinstated its softball program and has enlisted local talent. The former Pleasant Valley standout Rebekah Gannaway is an upcoming senior in 2023, is an incoming freshman at GSCC and Oxford Senior Reagan Sanders on Monday had an event to celebrate her dedication for the Cardinals.

“I was extremely happy and satisfied with the trainer,” she said.