HEADING EAST - Boyd's Chelsea Graham signs her letter of intent to play at Davis & Elkins in West Virginia. Messenger photo by Richard Greene

Chelsea Graham’s softball talents are taking her a long way from home for college.

Graham inked a letter of intent this past week with Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, W. Va.

“It’s going to be different being a long ways from my family,” Graham said. “I know I’ll have to work on the mental aspects of the game and my concentration. But I’m ready.

“This has been a dream of mine for a long time. I’ve played since I was 7.”

The daughter of Connie and Doug Graham started playing baseball as a child before taking up softball.

She came to Boyd as a sophomore from Springtown. She didn’t get to play that season after transferring. She came back as a junior to start at catcher. She batted .360 with a team-high 29 RBIs and two home runs.

This year as a senior, she played the majority of the year at designated hitter. She hit .271 with 15 RBIs.

“She’s a great kid and a very good player,” said Boyd coach Brandon Hopkins. “She’ll do whatever you ask her to do.”

Graham is expecting to move back to catcher at Davis & Elkins.