Tracy Press

The fourth senior on the Tracy High softball team has announced she will play college ball next year.

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Melissa Turney

On Monday, Turney, a senior at Tracy High, signed her letter of intent to accept a partial scholarship as a member of the Otters softball squad. She’s the fourth member of this year’s Bulldogs varsity team to confirm that she will compete on the college level next year.

The Otters are ranked No. 5 in the NCAA Division II West Region. Turney said she liked the campus at Seaside, and after she met head coach Andrea Kenney and her staff, she decided Monterey Bay would be an ideal fit.

"I was very comfortable with her, and she was easy to talk to and an amazing coach," Turney said. "The way they prepare for games is so professional, and I want to be a part of that."

Turney plays outfield for the Tracy team, which took first place in the San Joaquin Athletic Association last year and is 11-6 this year. She is No. 4 in the league in batting average (.422), right after teammate Nikki Moreno (.464).

Three of her senior teammates have already committed to continue their softball careers. Moreno signed her letter of intent with the University of Memphis in November, and Katie Stutz and Samantha Fisher signed with Holy Names University in Oakland two weeks ago.

Turney has played the game since she was 4 years old and, like her college-bound teammates, has trained with All-American Sports Academy and played on the California Grapettes travel team.

This is her second year on varsity, and Turney said senior year is when players know colleges will watch teams like Tracy to find new players.

"The whole process is kind of scary," she said, "but you always put yourself out there, play the best you can and hope they pick you up."

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