Lady Rocket senior first baseman Katelyn Helmick epitomizes the resiliency and the never give up and never give in mantra of Forrest softball as she has had to sit on the sidelines for much of her high school career due to injuries.

That attitude of determination and what she has shown on the field was enough for Motlow State Community College, who recently signed Helmick to a Letter of Intent to play softball next season for the Lady Bucks.

“I’m really excited,” Helmick said. “I’m just hoping all my hard work in rehabbing will pay off in a great way.”

“I’m just expecting everything to just roll over from high school and just play my best at Motlow, maybe make history and make a record over there.”

Helmick capped off a record setting signing season for Forrest softball, becoming the fifth senior to sign a college offer along with Laura Mealer (MTSU), Jenna Blanton (Kentucky), Ashley Milligan (Walters State Community College), and Karley Daughrity (Martin Methodist College).

“Anytime you get five seniors that get to go to the next level is very exciting and sets a precedent for our team and our community, anytime you have five girls sign to play at the collegiate level that come from a one red light town, it’s a big deal,” Forrest coach Shelby Lightfoot said. “It also says a lot about the parents that we have supporting our system and all the time and the work they are putting in to get their kids to the next level.”

Helmick showed great promise and looked to be on her way to a great varsity career at Forrest after a solid middle school run where she had six doubles, two triples, a home run, eight runs scored, and 13 RBI’s.

“Katelyn had a great eighth-grade year, she was powerful, hit the ball well and her defense was solid, so we were looking forward to what she would bring to high school,” Lightfoot said.

After her freshman season, Helmick’s shoulder injury held her back as she only had seven plate appearances in the 2018-2019 season and had one at bat in her junior season before the campaign was halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Just to see her, through all of that, still stick with it and come in and commit to the team and get through that is hard,” Lightfoot said. “That is hard for any person, much less an athlete who is trying to get back to throwing because of a shoulder surgery.”

“That just tells you about her commitment to the program and even her love for the game, not many athletes would stick with that.”

Moore County High School graduate Janice Morey is entering her sixth season as Lady Bucks’ head coach and she knows what players like Helmick from Forrest bring to the table.

“Katelyn comes from a phenomenal program, and of course I sympathize with this group because I have a 20-21 myself and all of them deserve to get to play at the next level, the opportunity is there and we want to be the team that gives Katelyn that opportunity,” Morey said. “She is going to come through with the qualities she possesses, she is going to do a great job, we have no doubt.”

“The level of competition and the fact that they (Forrest) show up to compete every time on the field is a remarkable trait, so anytime we can get a player where that is the standard, that is what we need.”

Helmick has a perfect 4.0 GPA at Forrest and wants to study nursing.

Helmick and the two-time Class A and defending Class 2A state champions Lady Rockets have some unfinished business in a quest to become the first team to win back-to-back state titles.

“We are so excited to play and we are so ready for February 15th just so we can all practice as a team instead of individually,” Helmick said. “Then once March 15th hits, we will be ready to go.”

The Lady Rockets open up defense of their state title at the Field of Dreams in Chapel Hill on March 18 when they host the Oakland Lady Patriots at 6:30 p.m.