Julie Norris Commits Softball Talents to Lady Tigers of Campbellsville

Edmonson County High School Lady Cats pitcher Julie Norris (middle) signs a letter of intent to play college softball for Campbellsville University Friday March 21 in Brownsville.

​Story and photos by Joseph Barkoff:
 The odds of playing college athletics may be long, but Edmonson County High School’s Julie Norris showed she is ready to make her dream, a dream many young women have, come true.
 
Norris signed a letter of commitment in the ECHS Gymnasium, in in front of family, friends, faculty and staff to play for Campbellsville University in Kentucky just after noon Friday, March 21st.
 
Campbellsville was busy playing a game, so the head coach was unable to attend, but the Coordinator of Athletic Recruitment at Campbellsville University was on hand to deliver paperwork and a jersey.
 
How cool is it they are picking up Norris?
 
“No, it’s awesome,” Coordinator of Athletic Recruitment at Campbellsville University Khalil Baker said before the signing. “I think we are honored to have Julie here. She’s extremely impressive, very professional, you can tell that she cares about anything she is involved in. She’s very passionate about it and she always wants to be the best version of herself, so I think it’s awesome and we are glad she is coming here.”

Edmonson County High School Lady Cats softball head coach Alex Jane Massey (left) speaks during the letter of intent to play college softball for Campbellsville University signing by Julie Norris Friday March 21 in Brownsville.

Edmonson County High School pitcher Julie Norris (left) speaks with her dad, Brent Norris and Coordinator of Athletic Recruitment at Campbellsville University Khalil Baker before Julie signs Friday March 21 in Brownsville.

​In the school year 2022-23, there were 357,110 high school softball players, according to ScholarshipStats.com. Of those, 34,678 were able to make the next step into college ball. Only 2.7% played in Division 1.
 
In the same time period, the National College Athletic Association lists the odds of making it to college level play at an overall of 6.3 percent and just 2 percent are able to compete at the Division 1 level, according to NCAA.org.
 
Campbellsville is a Division 2 NCAA school, still putting Norris in the top 6-7 percent of all high school athletes in the nation for softball.
 
Why Campbellsville?
 
Norris’s head coach, former teammates, former and current coaches all have some connection to the school.  
 
With all those people dear to her heart, it was an easier decision to make, Brent Norris, Julie’s dad said.
 
Norris has taken hitting lessons since she was around 10 years old from a program run by Campbellsville coaches called BSA Softball, Brent said.

Edmonson County Lady Cats head coach hugs pitcher Julie Norris during Norris's commitment to play ceremony Friday March 21 in Brownsville.

​Edmonson County High School athletic director Kyle Pierce commended both Norris and her family at their year-round level of commitment to sports for Julie, he said.
 
“I really want to commend you for what you’ve done for Edmonson County High School,” Pierce said. 
 
Norris is also a triple-threat, explained Pierce about Norris earning varsity letters in three sports a year, which included softball, basketball, and volleyball.
 
“There’s never been a challenge that I can say that Julie has backed down from,” Massey said. “She always accepts challenge. I think she craves challenge, slightly. She wants to overcome whatever it is that’s put forth in front of her.” 
 
Massey is proud to see Norris’s dream to playing at the college level “come to fruition,” she said.
 
Norris’ dream began when she began playing softball in eighth grade, she said.
 
“I am so excited,” Norris said after the signing. “I love the idea of just playing at a high level and stuff like that and having all these girls who are dedicated, like obviously the high school is dedicated, but they’ve gone above and beyond.”
 
With the saying around, once a Lady Cat, always a Lady Cat, sure doesn’t make the stretch that hard to know Norris will be a Lady Tiger next year too. Still a Lady Cat.
 
Edmonson Lady Cats take to the diamond on the road against Breckinridge County at 5:30 p.m. March 21 in Harned.