Cloverdale’s Garretson to play softball at OCC

Cloverdale senior Holly Garretson (front, second from right) signs to play softball for Olney Central College next year. Witnessing in front row are (from left) are sister Hunter, mother Sherry and father Chad. Also witnessing (from left, back) were CHS head coach Jim Spencer, CHS principal Sonny Stoltz, travel coach Richie Riddle, hitting instructor Gary Slinger and CHS athletic director J.J. Wade.

Banner Graphic/JOEY BENNETT

CLOVERDALE — Cloverdale senior Holly Garretson will continue her education and softball career this fall at Olney Central College in Illinois.

Garretson chose Olney because of its location and the city.

“It is close to home, and I really like the town,” she said. “It feels like home over there.”

Garretson has talked with 2018 Cloverdale graduate Jalen Moore, who is a star basketball player for the Blue Knights, about what it’s like.

“He really likes it over there,” she said. “I’m excited to be able to go to school with him again.”

The Blue Knights have a successful softball program, going 19-8 last spring with an 8-6 record in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference.

“I feel we will be a really good team next year,” she said.

Garretson is an outfielder, and thinks her hitting will be able to get her into the lineup this fall.

“The coach has talked about how he needs to get a big bat like me into the lineup,” she said. “I hope to deliver.”

The Clovers have not lost a county tournament during Garretson’s career, but have been unable to pick up a sectional title during that time.

Garretson is hopeful that fact can change this season.

“I think we’ll have a good team this year,” she said. “We lost some good players from last year, but we have a lot of good players coming back.”

Garretson will study general education, and eventually hopes to transfer to a bigger school to become a dental hygienist.