by Jeff Linville Mount Airy News
Surry Central’s Chelsea Craddock signs her letter of intent to play softball for Surry Community College next year. Seated from left, mom Mary Craddock and Chelsea; standing, coach and father Glenn Craddock, Central athletic director Anya Tilley-Martin and SCC Coach Amber Reid

DOBSON — Surry Central pitcher Chelsea Craddock signed her letter of intent Friday to play softball next year for Surry Community College.

Daughter of Coach Glenn Craddock and Mary Craddock, Chelsea is a three-year starter for varsity softball and a three-year member of the swim team.

“We’re very proud of her for being a Knight and continuing her education,” said Mary.

With most of her senior season left to play, Chelsea already has racked up impressive numbers.

The coach said she has faced 594 batters and struck out 167 of them while only walking 23. She has an ERA of 2.07 and can help her own cause with a solid .267 batting average.

As a junior, she was a member of the Northwest Conference’s honorable mention list for all-conference performers.

Just as important to her parents, Chelsea is a three-year scholar athlete. To qualify as a scholar athlete, the student must be on the varsity level and have a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher, said Anya Tilley-Martin, Central athletic director.

In addition to softball and swimming, she has participated in clubs Young Life (a Christian ministry), Future Business Leaders of American, and HOSA, Health Occupations Students of America.

Choosing SCC wasn’t just for its softball program, but because Chelsea likes the reputation of the college’s nursing program.

“We are extremely proud of her,” Glenn said of Chelsea’s academic focus. He said she didn’t play sports as a freshman because she was a student at Surry Early College.

However, she loved softball and wanted to get back into playing, he said.

Chelsea began playing at the T ball level when she was five. Six years ago, she was part of the Pilot Mountain Little League team that finished third in the regional playoffs in Florida. The team missed out on the Little League World Series by one game, Glenn noted.

When she first joined the varsity squad two years ago, then-coach Phil Bowers said of Chelsea, “She throws pretty hard for a sophomore ... but it’s not how hard you throw, it’s your control. She’s got three different pitches she can control.”

For the past two years, her father has been the head coach.

“Dad is a little harder on me, but it worked out for the best in the long run,” she said.

“As the coach’s daughter, she has to prove herself more than the others,” he said. “She has stepped up to the challenge and does it well.”

With a muddy field postponing Friday’s game, Glenn said the team has had as many rain delays as games. However at 2-1, he feels this year’s squad can be special, and Chelsea is a big part of that.

“We feelfortunate to sign Chelsea for next year,” said SCC Coach Amber Reid. “She will have an immediate impact on the staff.”

With a two-year school, coaches don’t have the luxury of bringing players along gradually, she said. However, “She has the speed and movement to be competitive in the (Region X) Conference right away.”

And as a scholar, Reid said, “She is going to be an asset to the school.”

Read more: Mount Airy News - Central’s Craddock signs with SCC softball