Price looking forward to Franklin opportunity

Skylar Price of Cloverdale watches a fly ball approach against Southmont in sectional action last week.

Banner Graphic/JOEY BENNETT

CLOVERDALE — In last week’s sectional game against Southmont, Cloverdale left-fielder Skylar Price went back to get a fly ball hit over her head.

She stumbled, fell on the ground, picked herself up and still was able to retreat and haul in the catch.

That kind of defensive glove work is what Franklin College is hoping to get on a daily basis next spring, after the Clover senior signed a national letter-of-intent earlier this month to play for the Grizzlies.

Cloverdale senior Skylar Price signed her national letter-of-intent recently to play softball. She is flanked by her parents, Carin and Scott Haywood. Also witnessing (back, from left) were Cloverdale principal Sonny Stoltz, Cloverdale athletic director J.J. Wade and Cloverdale assistant coaches Neal Jordan and Rob Costin.

Banner Graphic/JOEY BENNETT

She is looking forward to the opportunity to continue her career at the next level.

“I loved their campus, their facility and their coaches,” she said. “It all just felt right.”

Cloverdale athletic trainer Shawn Mattingly went through his educational training at Franklin, and was a big influence in Price’s decision.

“I see how well he does his job, and I know he was taught well there,” she said. “He said he thought I would love it there.”

Price said the prospects for playing time at Franklin are wide open, and the Grizzlies just want to put the best players on the field.

“It’s just whoever shows up to play,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what grade you’re in, or what your skill level is. If you’re there to work hard and you can beat out a senior, then that’s what happens.”

Price said coach Butch Zike likes his players to have one particular skill when they arrive.

“He wants everyone to be able to hit,” Price said. “Obviously defense is important, but if I can come in as a freshman and put in more work then there’s a chance I could start.”

Price said it is easier in a short-term setting to teach a player how to improve defensively, compared to the length of time it takes to develop strong hitting skills.

“You have to be coachable, and adjust to how he wants you to play,” she said.

Price said the team has been very successful in softball, going 26-17 this spring and losing in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championship game.

She has played travel softball since her younger days, and thinks the experience will help her as the competition for playing time increases.

“Ever since I can remember, I wanted to play college ball,” she said. “I wasn’t sure where, but when I went to Franklin I knew that was it. It took a lot of hard work and studying, but it’s worth it.”

Franklin is a “sister school” with DePauw, where longtime friend and teammate Kelsey Helterbrand will play

“It will be good and bad to play against her,” Price said. “It will be good to see her, but we will probably argue about who’s going to win.”