Salem High School graduate and softball player Darrien Dykes has signed a letter of intent to attend Holmes Community College and play for the Lady Bulldogs.

Holmes is located in Goodman, Miss., which is about an hour from Jackson, Miss.

“I am beyond excited,” Dykes said. “I can’t wait.”

Dykes played for Franklinton High School her freshman through junior seasons.

After that, she attended Salem in Tylertown, Miss.

Dykes is going to Holmes and will be a pitcher and an outfielder.

Dykes was a pitcher and a shortstop this season at Salem High School.

Dykes played in the outfield her freshman and sophomore year at Franklinton High School.

At Salem, Dykes was an all-district player this year.

Dykes said one of Holmes’ coaches attended Salem’s playoff game against Ethel.

“One of the coaches introduced herself to me,” Dyles said. “She was talking about how she liked me and asked me if I was interested in a tryout. I went to the tryout and a few days later, they texted me and told me they wanted to sign me to play outfield and pitcher.”

In the circle, Dykes has a huge arsenal of pitches she uses.

Dykes throws a fastball, changeup, curveball, screwball, c change and a riseball.

She said the c change is an offspeed pitch between a fastball and a changeup.

Dykes said the screwball is her best pitch.

“It’s just one of those pitches that’s coming, but it breaks toward the inside to right-handers,” Dykes said.

When asked what her strength is, Dykes said it was hitting, but added that her fielding percentage was also pretty good this year.

This season, Salem reached the Class 1A playoffs in the Mississippi High School Athletic Association and made the second round before falling to Bogue Chitto.

Holmes tallied a 16-25 overall record.

The Lady Bulldogs finished with an 11-13 mark in conference play.

At Salem, Dykes was an all-district player after being named an all-district honorable mention in her junior season.

Besides Holmes, Dykes was also considering Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit, Miss.

Dykes is the daughter of Scott Dykes and Kelli Burch.