West Point’s Karra Elam sits front and center for a ceremony Tuesday recognizing her recent signing of a national letter of intent to attend and play softball at Wallace State. Elam is accompanied up front by her parents, Kelly and Keith. In the back, from left to right, are Mike Brown, West Point assistant coach; Kevin Sullins, West Point head coach; Jayne Clem, Wallace State head coach; and Mike Harbison, West Point assistant coach.

WEST POINT — The West Point softball program celebrated its second signing ceremony in a week Tuesday, gathering in the high school library to recognize Karra Elam’s cemented commitment to junior college powerhouse Wallace State.

The shy senior had no choice but to step into the spotlight, standing by as coach Kevin Sullins addressed the modest crowd and then sitting front and center for a series of pictures with her family, teammates, and current and future coaches.

Elam called the opportunity to eventually continue her career at the next level “extremely exciting.”

“I’ve been wanting to play since I was like 8,” she said. “And I’ve been watching Wallace since I was like 8, so it’s been pretty awesome.”

Elam’s “signing” Tuesday was a mere formality considering she and 13 other prep softball prospects descended upon the Hanceville campus Jan. 18 to officially pen their autographs on national letters of intent. The girls then participated in a class of 2015 signee sleepover and practiced with Wallace State’s current squad the following morning.

The main sentiment Elam took away from the experience is that she’s already ready for life with the Lions.

Wallace State coach Jayne Clem agreed. The longtime leader said she expects Elam to make an “immediate impact” and was pleased “to have that caliber player come and be part of a championship program at Wallace.”

The fact Clem, whose rosters are regularly littered with in-state talent, didn’t even have to leave Cullman County to land Elam was only icing on the recruiting cake.

“We’re set to hopefully do big things this year, and she’ll come right in with what we’re doing,” she said. “She’s seen what we do and been around our kids and knows what she’s got to do to get there.”

What Sullins has seen Elam do since bursting onto the varsity scene as a seventh-grader is put in hard work. More specifically, the coach said it’s the work she does when no one’s looking that sets her apart from the average high school player.

Sullins said there’s not a day, night, weekend or holiday year-round where Elam and her dad, Keith, aren’t at the field sharpening her skills at shortstop or the plate. Clem said Elam also makes her way to Wallace State for hitting lessons at least once a week.

“I have a lot of my players who have seen her working hard and they begin to work hard because they want to be like Karra,” Sullins said. “She’s a good example for them. She doesn’t say a whole lot, but she leads on the field by her play. And if she ever does say something, they really take notice because it means something to them.

“We’re just very proud of her and her family.”

Elam was an offensive force as a junior, batting .482 with 53 hits, four home runs, 40 RBIs, 14 doubles, three triples, 32 runs and three meager strikeouts. She was at her best in West Point’s run to its first county tournament championship since 2008, scattering eight hits, six RBIs, two doubles and a triple — not to mention flashy glovework — over wins against Hanceville, Good Hope and Cold Springs.

Before making the short trek to Wallace State, Elam has her sights set on another county title and earning a regional berth. With a senior-laden squad set to open the season Feb. 24 at Danville, she firmly believes those goals are within reach.

Having Elam one last spring is one of the biggest reasons why Sullins won’t argue.

“We just appreciate everything she’s brought to West Point softball,” he said. “She’s helped us really put it on the map. We really want to continue growing. With girls like her leading the way, that’s what we look forward to.”

Elam’s ceremony came a week to the day after senior teammate Mallory Walker took the same seat to splash some ink on a scholarship offer from Snead State. Walker was well aware the Parsons and Lions are conference rivals and wasted no time predicting Snead State will come out on top when the signees eventually face off.

Elam came ready Tuesday with a response to Walker’s friendly trash talk. Suffice to say, she sided with the Lions, who are only a season removed from snagging their second National Junior College Athletic Association national championship.

“Wallace is the No. 1 junior college in the nation, so that’s about it,” she said.