Stocking signs with Shelton State

Stocking signed with Shelton State Community College.

It’s Shelton State for Bob Jones High School student Allie Stocking.

Stocking, a senior on the school’s softball team signed a full scholarship to Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa.

She thanked God and her parents in the emotional ceremony held Wednesday, Jan. 18 at Bob Jones.

“Today means the world to me,” Stocking said. “I’ve worked hard all my career and I’m glad I was blessed with a scholarship to a school I really like.”

Stocking praised Shelton’s head softball coach, Buddy Boyle, and complimented the school’s facility and program.

“He is really the sweetest guy I know,” she said. “I met with a few of my teammates and they all seem really nice, so I’m really excited.”

Boyle described Stocking as being a “great kid” with “good character.” He said he is looking forward to having her play on the team.

“When you talk about a student athlete, you want a kid that is going to represent the school well,” Boyle said. “Just like at Bob Jones, she’s a high-character person.”

He said the team could benefit from her talents.

“She’s a great hitter. She has good bat control, a good eye in the strike zone and does good job at moving the ball around,” Boyle said. “Even when she strikes out, she’s moving runners and playing hard. At our level, that extra base could make the difference in the game. That’s the first thing that jumped out at me.”

Stocking’s mother, Bridget, was also moved to tears. She said this moment has been building up since Stocking was five years old.

“That’s when she first started playing T-ball,” Bridget said. “She has worked really hard for this and she deserves every minute of it. I’m really excited for her to start her next level of playing.”

Stocking hails from W. Va. She and her family have lived in Madison since 2000.