Saints' Warren signs to play softball at Pitt CC

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 6, 2015 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

DUDLEY -- The word reached Southern Wayne head softball coach Michael Wiggs long before Haley Warren stepped onto the Saints' diamond as a freshman.

Warren could pitch, could hit and could play any position, according to her coaches at Grantham Middle School.

"I knew we had something special, even in the first few days of preseason workouts," Wiggs said. "She's got the drive of what it takes to play at the next level. I knew she had some tools and she's worked on refining those tools since she's been here by attending a lot of camps and playing weekend travel ball.

"She's worked really hard."

But was the opportunity there to play college ball?

Warren had no plans to attend a big university. Still, she wasn't about to give up her passion. Coaches from Methodist, Meredith and some other small schools showed interest in the senior.

Then Junior Bailey, head coach at Pitt Community College, came calling. Warren attended a tryout, listened to how Bailey spoke to his team and knew she found her next home when her prep career is done.

"Everything he had to say (at the tryout), it was my mentality," said Warren, who signed a national letter-of-intent to play for the perennial JUCO powerhouse next fall. "He said 'we step on the field to win a ballgame. All those girls are on the same page. I don't think I've ever been part of a team that's all had that same mentality.

"The way he talked, the way he coached just stood out to me. I loved everything he had to say."

Signing with the Dogs made sense.

Warren helped guide the Saints to a middle-of-the-pack finish in the highly-competitive Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference last spring. She batted .340 with a .415 slugging percentage and .453 on-base percentage.

The most impressive stat came on defense -- a .978 fielding percentage with just three errors in 135 attempts. During her three-year varsity career, Warren has committed just seven errors in 334 attempts -- a .979 percentage.

"I have the want to always be better, every day I want to improve," said Warren, who has gained valuable experience with the Kinston Shockers travel team, coached by Thurman Pate.

"I feel like that's something I can take over there, and he (Bailey) can teach me a lot. Also, I can help wherever they feel they need to put me, and I'll give them all I've got."

While Warren's strong suit is undoubtedly her glove game, Wiggs has seen some improvement at the plate season. However, he admits that Warren has yet to tap into her full offensive potential, which he thinks could happen at PCC.

Wiggs doesn't expect Warren's work ethic to waver, but increase as she attempts to earn a starting spot as a freshman. Her drive to get better and desire to physically get stronger could help factor into a starting role.

"A two-year program, she can find out what softball is all about because it's going to be a different level," said Wiggs, a 2000 grad of University of Mount Olive, who signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

"Pitt is an excellent fit ... choice for her."

Warren is part of a 10-member class signed by Bailey, who has seven sophomores on this year's roster.

PCC finished 27-7 last season and compiled a 14-2 worksheet against Region X competition. The Bulldogs have advanced to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I World Series on three occasions in the past six seasons.