Sydney Booker, a former Bob Jones start, was recently announced as an Alabama softball signee. (Contributed)

By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

MADISON – Sydney Booker, a former Bob Jones softball standout, will make a triumphant return to the state in spring 2016 as the now-former Southeastern Louisiana player recently accepted an offer to play for coach Patrick Murphy and the Alabama Crimson Tide softball team.

“It kind of is a dream to play for Alabama,” Booker said. “I didn’t really think it would happen, honestly.”

Booker, who graduated from Bob Jones in 2014, spent the first season of her collegiate career as a shortstop with Southeastern Louisiana, starting all 52 games with the Lions as a freshman.

According to a release on the University of Alabama athletics’ website, Booker set the SLU single-season record with 49 RBIs and 8 triples. She also hit 9 doubles and 8 home runs on her way to a top-25 finish for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Freshman of the Year.

For the process of transferring, Booker said she was granted a release to begin talking with other college softball coaches in the hopes of being granted a spot at another program. Alabama hosted Booker for an official visit, and it was announced on July 22 by the university that Booker had a spot with the Crimson Tide.

“The main thing is it’s going to be hard because I’m going to miss my old friends,” Booker said. “I’m pretty sure I’ll make some new friends [at Alabama], so that will make it a little less stressful.”

Booker said she may have a chance to crack the starting lineup as the Crimson Tide lost its starting shortstop player to graduation.

Sydney is the daughter of Delourdes and David Booker. David played wide receiver for Coach Bear Bryant’s 1979 championship team. Sydney has three younger siblings who play sports: Shelby, who plays softball for James Clemens; Savannah, who plays softball for Bob Jones; and Dylan, who plays football for James Clemens.