Kelly's Sarah Ruff will patrol the outfield for the Three Rivers Community College Lady Raiders in the fall. (David Jenkins/Standard Democrat) [Click to enlarge]

POPLAR BLUFF -- The Three Rivers Community College Lady Raiders have added another local player to their lineup as Sarah Ruff has signed on to play softball for head coach Jack Childress.

Ruff, a 2008 graduate of Kelly High School, had a solid season for the Lady Hawks on the diamond and played a few games for the Lady Hawks basketball team before suffering a season-ending ACL injury.

Childress said that he is pleased to have Ruff join his squad and hopes that her knee regains its original strength so that she can possibly walk-on to the basketball team and compete as well.

"Coach Childress and I talked about it and I'm going to play softball and also try to redshirt and play next year in basketball," Ruff said. "The only reason I'm sitting out a year is because it's harder on my knee than softball is, so I'll have to get in better shape for it. He said if I'm doing OK then we can cancel the redshirt and I may be able to go into it next semester.

"I didn't think it was possible to come back to competitive sports at first, since I tore my ACL," she added. "I'm back to the same old thing now, so it's really good to get another opportunity. I really wanted to play both sports in college if possible, since I didn't get to play my senior year of basketball. I'm really excited."

Ruff said that the main reason she chose TRCC was that they have a good reputation for sending athletes on to a four-year school and that it's close enough to home for her to visit her family and friends.

The signing came a bit unexpected to Ruff, but she said that the coaches saw her playing recently and took notice.

"It was pretty awesome," she said. "They saw me play at Shawnee Park and they called me and offered a full ride. I've now switched my hitting to the left side and I'm batting at the top of the lineup. It should help in college with me getting out of the box faster to first base."

Ruff credits a lot of her success to the coaches that she spent time under in high school at Kelly.

"I was with Coach Rod (McQuerter) for nine years, and I knew exactly what he was going to say and do whenever, and Coach (Rhonda) Ratledge taught me how to work hard yet have fun at the same time. They're both really good coaches."

Childress considers it an honor to have Ruff come play for the Lady Raiders in either sport, and noted that Ratledge usually provides several stellar athletes each season.

"Rhonda always has a super team there at Kelly," he said. "I had my first All-American athlete come out of her program. Sarah will be a great addition to our program. You don't get short-changed when you pick from the Lady Hawks program.

Ruff is going in on a high note, as she's back in competitive play on the weekends for the Loose Cannon's squad out of Benton. She has also moved up to the leadoff spot, away from her typical three- or four-spot in the lineup.

Childress expects the same under his direction and says that she'll be in the outfield for the Lady Raiders.

"I'm just really excited to be back and to get to play again," she said.

She will report to TRCC in August for the fall season.