By Angie Ledbetter

South Panola senior Amanda Ivy Franks is the first fastpitch softball player to commit to a Southeastern Conference team.

Seventeen-year-old Franks verbally committed to Mississippi State University June 14.

She has dreamed of playing for Mississippi State University since she began playing fastpitch softball in junior high deciding to commit early to avoid the hassle as other SEC schools were looking at her.

“I feel like the pressure is off now because I had my mind on other schools so now I don’t have to worry about where I’m going to school,” Franks said. “I wanted to play in the SEC but really loved the coach at Mississippi State and felt like I needed to be there. The team pulls you in like a family like we do at South Panola.”

Franks started playing in seventh grade starting some games on the 2008 championship team in left field. Since, she has seen action at left field, short stop, center field and catcher.

Even though Franks did not commit to a certain position she thinks she will play either catcher or center fielder.

South Panola head fastpitch coach Ashleigh Hicks has been coaching Franks since junior high and knew about her talent.

“Since she made the team in seventh grade she bleeds blue and red,” Hicks said. “She always stuck out as far as her talent level on the field. I always knew she had the talent but she proved she had the will as well. It goes back to whether or not the kid is going to put in the extra hard work it takes to go to the next level especially SEC Division 1. Amanda definitely put her time in playing year round.

“Amanda is so multi-talented and can play anywhere,” Hicks continued. “That’s the thing that made her so valuable to us and MSU. She can play outfield, catcher or at shortstop.”

Hicks said Franks has been talking about going to Mississippi State a long time.

“I’m excited,” Hicks said. “For her to have the opportunity to play for her dream school is super exciting and amazing. It doesn’t happen very often that a kid has a favorite school for so long and then get to go play there.”

Playing at the next level is “awesome” for any player, according to Hicks.

“When you go to a Division 1 SEC team, I think that shows how hard your program works and how hard your kids are working,” Hicks said.

Franks said she plans to work very hard.

“It’s hard to start as a freshman but I’m going to work really hard and try my best,” she said. “I plan to help them out wherever they need somebody.”

Franks left advice for her younger teammates with the same dream.

“Follow your dreams and keep working hard because that’s what I did and it got me where I wanted,” she said. “It’s been a lot of hard work . . . It’s not going to be just handed to you. I played ball year round.”

Franks also plays slowpitch for South Panola and fastpitch for the Blue Angels traveling team.

Her parents are Chad Franks of Sardis and Pamela Ivy of Batesville.