By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
SAND ROCK – The name Brylie St. Clair is synonymous with softball greatness at Sand Rock.
Following a highly decorated high school softball career that featured multiple all-state selections and school records, St. Clair became Sand Rock’s first Division I scholarship signee when she inked with Mississippi State back in 2018.
St. Clair carried her high school greatness over to the softball diamond in Starkville, where she played in 242 games and started in 189 of them during a five-year collegiate career with the Lady Bulldogs. She batted .249 with 30 RBIs and 99 runs scored. Along the way, St. Clair gained a national following on social media platforms.
Following graduation, St. Clair continued playing the sport she loves after signing a professional contract with the Texas Monarchs, an upstart softball team in Women’s Pro Fastpitch.
On Tuesday evening, St. Clair’s softball career came full circle. She returned home to Sand Rock, where the school honored her accomplishments following the varsity Lady Wildcats’ 5-4 area walk-off win against Cedar Bluff.
The highlight of the ceremony was the unveiling of a banner, which will be appropriately placed in center field – St. Clair’s position.
I had the opportunity to talk with St. Clair for a few minutes following the ceremony. Her comments are below.
Q: First off, I’m sure it’s surreal for you to have your own banner placed in center field where you played. How humbling is that?
A: “It’s great. This is the first time I’ve been back to a softball game here since I played. I’m just so grateful my softball career is being honored in the place that raised me.”
Q: I know you’ve signed a few autographs here tonight. Obviously, these young girls look up to you. How does it feel being back here now as a role model?
A: “Honestly, it doesn’t feel real. This is home to me, and all these people are family. For these girls to think so much of me, I would have never in my wildest dreams thought that would be a thing.”
Q: The last time you and I had a real conversation at length was back during the COVID season of 2020. It was your freshman year at Mississippi State. I remember asking you then what some of the differences were between high school and college ball. Now, I can ask you what are some of the differences between college and professional softball?
A: “The big difference between is college is a little more of a schedule, a little more structure. In professional, they expect you to do things independently. You know what you need, so you get in there and do what you need for you. It’s fun to be able to have that kind of freedom. You’re not overworking your body. You’re a little older when you’re playing professional, so more things start to hurt, but it’s good to be able to get in there and get what you need. I think the main difference is you have to hold yourself accountable.”
Q: So, what can you tell me about the Texas Monarchs?
A: “They’re located in Austin, Texas. It’s an expansion team for the WPF. I was very lucky to be able to play professional softball. That’s always the highest goal, to play a professional sport. I’ve devoted my whole life to it. Since I can remember, I grew up at a ball field watching my cousins play, and then I got to play.
“Being able to play for the Monarchs was a huge blessing, and I’m just so grateful they gave me that opportunity.”
Q: So, are you still playing with them?
A: “It’s kind of up in the air. I’ve had surgery.”
Q: Would you like to stay involved with the game in some capacity in the future, maybe coaching?
A: “If the opportunity presented itself, that would possibly be something I’d put some thought into. I love giving back to the game that gave so much to me. I could definitely see myself coaching somewhere down the line.”
Q: You got to see Sand Rock earn a walk-off win here tonight. How special is it to see that on the day they honor you?
A: “That was great. I’m proud of the girls. I remember them being in kindergarten. They were just babies. It was fun to watch them get a ‘W’ tonight.
“I know Coach (Josh) Bates devotes a lot of his time to this program and these girls. We always wanted to go out and get a win for him because he did so much for us. People don’t appreciate him as much or see the time he puts in, but Coach Bates is great. He was great for us and I still see the same characteristics in him on the field with them now. It’s great to see them do that.”
Q: Have you had an opportunity to talk to this team?
A: “Tonight was the first time I saw them. To come back here and see them be varsity athletes, that’s awesome to see their progression and see them doing what I love to do so much.”
Q: I know you’re quite the social media sensation. I read somewhere that you have over 164,000 followers on Instagram. What does it mean to you to have so many people who want to keep up with what you’re doing?
A: “It just kind of happened overnight. It was during my freshman year (at Mississippi State). I started to get a lot of attention on social media, then NIL (name, image, likeness) became a thing.
“I’m so grateful for NIL from an athlete’s standpoint. I’ve devoted my entire life to this sport, so to get rewarded for that, to get compensated was really great. It was life-changing. I’m forever grateful to be able to profit off of being an athlete, and a big part of that has been social media.
“Having a platform, I feel like a lot of younger female athletes can look at that and say ‘She’s from Sand Rock, Alabama. If she can do that then I can too.’ I can only hope I inspire younger girls to want to play and push themselves, just know if I can do it they can do it too.”
