Marley Sims ahead of her time: Former West Harrison star going to college early

In a world where high school seniors across the country would give anything for a proper send-off, one local high school junior is choosing not to have a senior season at all.

- in a world where high school- seniors across the country- would give anything, for a- proper send-off... one local- high school junior... is- choosing not to have a senior - season at all.- instead... former west harrison- softball standout marley- sims is heading off to college,- with three years of varsity - experience... despite playing - just four games... since the- end of her sophomore season.- - nat ---> bat cracking - "that's a good point.

I've told marley, i don't know if you - realize it but you're missing - your junior and your senior - season."

"it's crazy.

I've never heard o it.

Especially for softball,- i've never really heard of- anybody graduating early in the- first place to go play, but jus- skipping out on a - junior and a senior year, it's- kind of crazy and it just makes- me think like whoa."

As unusual as her predicament - may seem... marley sims is- - - - used to being on the fast-track- by the time she was an eighth - grader, at west harrison... - marley was already batting- - - - lead-off... as the starting - shortstop, for the lady - hurricanes.

- "i mean i've always grown up pretty competitive, so the hard- - - - work part just kind of came - natural.

I mean it was natural- to go out and work hard and do- things at 110 - - - - kind of came natural.

I mean it- was natural to go out and work- hard and do things at 110 - percent all the time."

Even standing in the other- batter's box... came naturally.- "so you write right-handed?

Throw a ball right-handed?"

" do everything right-handed- except for hit."

"and when did that change?"

"seventh grade is when i starte working on it, but mostly eight- grade and i was full- time- left-handed by ninth grade."

"she was a natural right-handed hitter, and that was about the- time she switched over to - left-handed and started slappin- and using her speed.

We realize- she had pretty good speed and - wanted to take advantage of it.- they say speed kills... but in- this case... being a lefty gave- marley's softball career... all- kinds of new life.- she stole 50 bases, from her- eighth to 10th grade seasons...- to go along with a career .500- on- base percentage.- nat ---> cheering - it wasn't long before schools - really started to take note of- her .576 batting average, as a- sophomore... including- chipola college... in marianna,- florida.- and marley simply couldn't say- no... to the reigning n-j-c-- double-a division i national- champions... giving her verbal- pledge... back in october.- "when did not having a senior season become a possibility for- you?"

"oh.

That idea came up this pas chistmas, so as soon as we got- out to go back to - school from christmas break was- when it was like all my online- classes were starting - up, and now we're like really - going for it."

Obviously... marley was suppose- to have a junior- season... and a senior season..- but between the corona-virus- pandemic... and being able to - knock out her last six credit - hours online, at mississippi- state... marley is now a- 17-year-- old graduate... willing to give- up her one chance... of being - a high school senior.

- "the main thing i was looking a is where i want to go next.

Lik- my next step, i've- always wanted to go play at a - big school.

University.

- four-year.

And i just feel like- going to chipola and getting- that one extra year of good,- solid work would get me to- where i want to go."

- - - "what she's been through, switching from right to left, - missing her senior- season - it's not your normal - story - and she misses out on - her senior night and the- little things like that that sh- realizes she may regret down th- road, but her focus is- just getting to that next - level."

- - - - as of now... marley says she'll- be reporting to - chipola, in august... still - un-decided about the possibilit- of- red-shirting... with an academi- focus on nursing.

- power five schools like florida- state, tennessee and- l-s-u... are all on chipola's - fall schedule.- marley's older sister sydney- - brooke also played, at west - harrison... as well