Brooke Smitherman is preparing to play her final season with the Lady Choctaws softball team at Mississippi College, where she has already left quite the legacy.

Smitherman, who played in the Clanton City Park youth league and with Clanton-based Freedom Fast-pitch and Strike Zone Travel Softball, plays first base for the Lady Choctaws under Coach Brooke O’Hair.

In 2014, Smitherman set new school records for slugging percentage (.761), on-base percentage (.658), homeruns (24) and base on balls (115).

After being named to the National Fast-pitch Coaches Association Division 3 First Team All-American during her freshman season, Smitherman made her second appearance on the NFCA All-American list in 2014, scoring Third Team honors.

She holds a .989 career fielding percentage, is currently tied for career leads in doubles (37) and has the second-best career batting average (.418).

Smitherman said if it weren’t for her dad’s persistence with keeping up with her stats, she would never know when she was nearing a school record.

“I don’t look at the record book,” Smitherman said. “It’s awesome to break a new record, but that’s not my main goal going into a game. I’m just getting up there and hitting the ball.”

Smitherman said although she values every award from her college experience, the NFCA All-American First Team honor she received as a freshman holds the most significance.

“Being a freshman, I was already trying to prove myself so much,” Smitherman said. “It felt really great to get that honor my first year.”

The All-American awards are given based on a player’s overall performance, including batting performance and fielding percentages.

The Lady Choctaws traveled to the National Christian College Athletic Association national tournament in Botetourt, Va. in May, where they finished fifth.

This year, Smitherman said her main goal is to just concentrate on enjoying the game of softball.

“I’ve honestly done everything I’ve set out to do in my college career, record-wise,” Smitherman said. “It’s not about me, it’s about what we’re going to accomplish as a team. I’m going to be the best leader I can be for them.”

Though she is currently in the process of recovering from knee surgery, Smitherman plans to be back on the field when the Choctaws begin fall tournaments in October.

Smitherman is majoring in business administration, and said she plans to remain an active member of the softball community long after she graduates and retires her jersey.

“I’m so passionate about softball, it wouldn’t matter if I got paid; I would still always be involved in the sport,” Smitherman said. “I want to teach younger kids about the game and continue to coach travel ball.”