At Thursday’s signing, seated from left are Luke Best (brother), Michael Best (father), Blythe Best and Midway athletics director Beth Best (mother). On the back row are Midway softball coach Leigh Ann Smith, Rita Bartlett (grandmother), Peyton Campbell (cousin), John Michael Best (brother), Archie Bartlett (grandfather) and Midway principal Monty Strickland.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Midway High School senior Blythe Best, of Dunn, signed on Thursday to play college softball at Methodist University in Fayetteville.
“I’ve been going to camps at Methodist since I was nine and (Methodist) coach (Ron) Simpson has always said he wanted me to play for him,” Best said. “It’s been one of my top choices for a long time and I just feel like God has planned this for me.”
Best is the daughter of Michael Best and Midway athletics director Beth Best. She said that she plans to major in biology at Methodist and hopes to have a career as a pediatric optometrist.
Best primarily plays catcher, but has seen action at nearly every position on the field. She was not certain what position Simpson would have her playing for the Monarchs. She said that she had told him she could play anywhere he needed her.
Included in the other positions Best has played is the other side of the battery as a pitcher, where she has one no-hitter against Union on April 13, 2016 among her accomplishments.
Best was a key contributor as Midway won the East Central 2-A Conference championship and reached the third round of the NCHSAA 2-A state softball playoffs this season, which she said would be some of her best memories of her time with the Raiders.
In addition to softball, Best was a four-year member of Midway’s swim team, played volleyball for three years and was a member of Midway’s inaugural girls’ golf team back in the fall.
Before her time with the Raiders, Best was a member of Dunn teams that won the Dixie Youth state softball championships in 2010 and 2012.
Best said her goal on the field at Methodist is to do the best she can wherever she is needed.
“I’m just thankful I get to play the sport I love for four more years,” Best said.
Methodist signee Blythe Best behind the plate for Midway.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
