By Valwood School

HAHIRA — Valwood senior, Hali Thomas, signed her National Letter of Intent Friday to continue her academic and softball career at Fort Valley State University.

Thomas has played softball since she was five years old. In addition to playing for the Valiants, she also plays travel softball for the Lady Dukes-CCD. During her time at Valwood, Thomas has been a leader on the team, a mentor to younger players, and a dedicated teammate. She’s played multiple positions including first base, third base, and pitcher.

Head coach Courtney Carter said, “Hali is the player I could always count on to do her best, to show up, and to do the right thing. She goes the extra mile, puts her teammates first, and has worked to better herself both physically and mentally.”

Thomas’ hard work paid off year to year, which is evident in her stats. Her sophomore year, she batted .292. Junior year, she batted .375 and this year she batted .472. She received all-region recognition this year and led the region in home runs and RBIs.

Following a visit to Fort Valley State, Thomas knew that is where she wanted to go next. She said, “Since I was a young girl, I have always wanted to attend and HBCU school. I loved the atmosphere and energy of the team, the campus is beautiful, and campus life is fun.”

She is the daughter of Darrion and Katora Thomas of Valdosta.