Three of Surry Central’s top softball players weren’t very happy this summer.

First baseman Hayley Durham, outfielder Dana Shores and shortstop Lakken Weaver, all Mountain Park residents, had realized that after playing together since they were 4-years-old, the ride was about to end with their senior season.

But after a tryout Monday with Surry Community College, the girls will be playing together for the next two years as part of the Knights’ softball program.

“It’s kind of like the door was open and it was a really great opportunity for us,” Durham said.

Durham first caught Surry Community College coach Amber Reid’s eye last season when Reid was on hand to watch Whitney Joyner. When Durham, who batted before Joyner, ripped a shot into the gap, Reid took notice.

“I gotta have that girl’s number,’” Reid said.

At Monday’s tryout, Durham’s hitting sealed the deal.

“Whenever she came to try out, her hitting, of course, was there,” Reid said.

Shores and Weaver were looked at as potential outfielders. The Knights lose all three of their outfielders next season.

"Both Shores and Weaver are speedy players that need to work on their hitting", Reid said.

Weaver is a strong-armed player who could also be used at shortstop, although Reid believes her arm may be best suited for the outfield.

“She’s got a great arm,” Reid said. “That is a definite talent to have an arm that will shoot a ball that hard.”

Surry has one scholarship available to the softball program and it belongs to catcher Paige Honeycutt, who will utilize it this season and next.

Surry Community College, located next door to Surry Central High School, has become the next stop for Central softball players. In addition to Thursday’s signings, the Knights inked Golden Eagles catcher Whitney Joyner Monday.

After competing last season with the minimum nine players, the Knights’ roster for this season has 14 players listed, 10 of which come from Surry County high schools. Sophomores Megan Stanley and Brittany Draughn are Central alumnae.

At the next level, the girls will experience better competition and more of it, as the Knights played about 50 games in the spring. The Central trio agreed that moving on together will ease the transition from high school to college.

“It’s not that we didn’t want to leave,” Durham said, “it’s just a really good opportunity to stay here.”