Sumiton Christian's Hamm signs with Birmingham Southern

Kendell Hamm started her Sumiton Christian softball career with a state championship.

She’s hoping to close her six-year stint on the team with a second title before she heads to Birmingham Southern. The Eagles’s star signed with the Lady Panthers on Monday.

Hamm, better known as Mia by her teammates, has started for coach Jessica Aderholt’s squad since she was in seventh grade.  Since then she has become one of the leaders and top offensive weapons for a Sumiton Christian team that advanced to the state tournament each of her five years on the varsity squad.  “When (Kendell) was in the seventh grade, we had one of the girls leave and that opened up a starting position. As soon as she stepped in there as a seventh grader, she was tough and got the job done,”  Aderholt said,  “She is just one of those kids that never complains about anything.  She plays well and is a good teammate. You don’t ever hear anything negative come out of her mouth.”

Hamm, committed to Birmingham Southern last January.  She made it official on Tuesday.

“The farther I got into my travel ball career, they started looking at me for softball,”  Hamm said. “I went for a visit and just fell in love with it.” The Panthers are led by head coach Kimball Cassady and assistant Steve Meyers. “ They are both awesome people. I love them both,”  added Hamm, who will be a short trip up Highway 78 away from Sumiton Christian. “I wanted to stay home. That was one of the things that I wanted.”

Hamm was an All-State shortstop in Class 1A last year. In 65 games she hit .379 with on base percentage of .436. She had 76 hits, 61 RBIs and 65 stolen bases.

Sumiton Christian placed third at the State Softball Tournament last year behind Brantley and Lynn. The Eagles move back to Class 2A this season. “I think we will do well this year. “ excited Hamm said.

What would a second state championship mean to her? “It would be amazing. It would make my senior year,” Hamm added.

She has high praise for Aderholt. “She’ s really the best coach I’ve ever had. She’s pretty much my second mom. She’s awesome” Hamm added.