By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

CEDAR BLUFF – Cedar Bluff senior Mackenzie Kimmons first began pitching when she was 10 years old. It’s something she’s worked on through the years, from playing travel ball to competing on varsity with the Lady Tigers.

The work Kimmons has put into pitching paid off on Wednesday morning. She signed a softball scholarship with the Oakwood University Ambassadors in Huntsville.

“Not many people are able to go to the next level. I’m just glad to be one of those chosen,” Kimmons said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my coaches, my teammates, and my parents.”

Splitting time in circle for the Lady Tigers last season, Kimmons compiled a 2.89 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 43.2 innings.

Cedar Bluff head coach Mandy Walker anticipates Kimmons to finish her high school softball career with a bang.

“She continues to work hard. She wants to do it. We’re hoping she takes more ownership this year and becomes our ace,” Walker said. “We’re super proud of Mackenzie getting to represent our school at the next level. We wish her all the best.”

Kimmons said she realized when she took an official visit to Oakwood that it was the right fit for her.

“It’s a Christian college. I love the coach (Bob Harris). He’s fun to be around. When I went to tryouts, I just knew that was the place.”

Kimmons is excited to be a part of a resurging softball program.

Once a casualty of budget cuts, Oakwood’s softball team disbanded in 2010, but it returned to competition in 2023. The Ambassadors joined the NAIA’s Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (now known as the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference, or HBCU) in 2022. Part of the school’s athletic requirements for admission to the conference was to add softball.

Kimmons hopes she can add to the program’s resurgence in any way she can.

“He (Harris) wants me to pitch, but also play first and second base,” Kimmons said. “I’ve also played outfield in travel ball, so I can play there if needed, but I’ll primarily be pitching.”

But before she heads to Huntsville to play college ball, Kimmons wants to finish her high school career strong with the Lady Tigers. Cedar Bluff is scheduled to open its 2026 softball season at home against West End on Feb. 24.