Pope John Paul II first baseman Meghan Collins has signed a letter of intent to attend the University of South Alabama.

USA’s softball program is fairly new and begins its third season of play in 2009. In its first year, South Alabama made it to the conference tournament, but the team came up short last year. The team has played schools like LSU and Alabama. Last season, South Alabama lost to LSU in the Lady Tigers’ tournament, 1-0. This fall, USA was competitive against Alabama, falling, 3-2.

Collins said she is looking forward to going there.

Pope John Paul II'€™s Meghan Collins signed a letter of intent to attend the University of South Alabama and play softball. Pictured from left, first row: PJP assistant coach Jim Ricciardone, Herb Collins (dad), Meghan, Jeanne Collins (mom) and PJP softball coach Lonna Winslow; second row: PJP athletic director Bill Gallagher and principal Richard Berkowitz. (Staff Photo by Chris Kinkaid)

“We went and visited there (Nov. 7), and I really liked the campus,” Collins said. “The coaches were really great. It was wonderful. It really clicked, and I enjoyed it. I liked it and I knew this was the place where I wanted to be.”

Collins talked about what she liked about the campus.

“I liked the people. It’s got a nice atmosphere. It’s not as big, but it’s not small either,” Collins said. “I think they have a really good softball team.”

Collins’ junior season was a memorable one.

She helped lead PJP to the state title and a 27-1-3 record. She also came up big on the final day of competition. Between the semifinals and the finals, she went 5-for-7 with two home runs and five runs batted in. Combined with the two final games, Collins hit for the cycle.

All totaled, she led the team with a .420 batting average, four home runs and 41 runs scored. She posted 24 RBIs.

Collins said it was a important to her to make the decision before the season begins.

“It’s just a big relief. I’ll be able to just play high school (softball) knowing that I’ll be able to play in college. It won’t be a lot of stress, ‘oh, this could be my last high-school game,’”

PJP coach Lonna Winslow talked about Collins.

“I’m so proud of Meghan,” Winslow said. “She is a fantastic softball player and not only a softball player. She is a good person all around, so she’ll be an asset to any team, especially USA.”

Winslow also said Collins is great to have as a leader.

“She’s one of those girls that, whether she’s sitting on the bench or starting, she’s always the first one to start cheering or congratulating to talk people up,” Winslow said. “She never gets down on anybody.”

Collins is the daughter of Herb and Jeanne Collins of Lacombe.