MOULTRIE, Ga. – The mission field is just as important – and it may become more as the years pass – as the softball field in the life of Colquitt County High senior Dakota Baker.

Where she chose to continue her career in college softball had as much to do with the mission Baker feels drawn towards as throwing strikes and getting base hits.

On Wednesday, Brewton-Parker head softball coach Randy Crawford brought scholarship papers for Baker to Colquitt County’s campus, and Baker can now look forward to a career as a Lady Baron in Mt. Vernon.

“I’ve always wanted to go to a Christian college,” said Baker, the daughter of Craig and Angel Baker whose been a protege of the head Packer coach from her senior season, Chance Pitts, since 8th grade. “When the offer came up that I could play softball (at Brewton-Parker), that was a huge impact. I’m a very strong Christian, and I believe Brewton-Parker would be a plus for me.”

It’s at Brewton-Parker that Baker hopes to learn more about missionary work. On the softball field, she was looking for a family, Christian atmosphere with teammates who will encourage her and push her to work and make the most of her abilities.

“I want to be a medical missionary,” said Baker. “I’m going to major in biology and minor in missions.”

The Barons are in the NAIA and the Southern States Conference. Crawford, along with pitching coach Nate Tompkins, joined the program a year ago from Tennessee Temple, a school that is now closed.

“They seem like really strong Christians,” said Baker. “They’ve called me, making sure that this is my choice. They’ve told me to pray about it, and they would pray about it as well.

“The girls on the softball team I got to meet, they are excellent. They seem like really strong Christian girls. I think I connect very well with them.”

In Brewton-Parker’s 2017 spring season, while Baker is completing her work at Colquitt County High, the Barons will have a young roster with no seniors listed.

“One pitcher they have is supposed to be a very fast pitcher,” said Baker. “The coaches already told me they pitch their pitchers every three innings. Their fast pitcher they said would be a good mix with me, that would could offset (each other).”

Baker is also anxious to play here because she will be able to be a part of the offense.

“Coach Crawford said he really liked the way I swung (the bat) when he got to see me play,” said Baker. “So I have a feeling I will be in the lineup.”

And throughout her career for Colquitt County, Baker did her pitching left-handed, but at the plate she took her hacks right-handed.

“I used to be (a switch-hitter),” she said. “My dad was a right-handed hitter. So he moved me to right-handed hitting, which I think is better for me. I think I’m stronger that way.”

That strength led to 23 hits in the 2016 fall season, six for doubles, and only 10 strikeouts in 75 plate appearances for a .338 average and .400 on-base percentage.

For the Region 1-7A runner-up and state tournament qualifier, Baker won seven of her 17 pitching starts with a 2.77 earned run average. She pitched 93 2/3 innings and struck out 34, but also had 124 ground outs.

In fielding her circle position, 69 chances came her way with 44 assists, 21 put-outs and four errors (.942 percentage).

“Coach Pitts has meant a lot to me,” said Baker. “Since he became the head coach, he’s really impacted me, pushed me to be the best I can be. He really believed in me.”

Before Baker signed her paperwork, Pitts said this college was getting a student-athlete of strong character, something he said was a product of the strong family support that was in attendance Wednesday.