Lady Lions reel in a real 'catch'

Heather Wyatt signs letter of intent

Softball team looks for defensive cornerstone

WAXAHACHIE, Texas -- The newest member of the athletic sports family at Southwestern Assemblies of God University just added a key piece to their foundational puzzle.

Head Coach Tim Grant, who recently concluded the inaugural season of women’s fast-pitch softball team at SAGU, is wasting no time in building the program.

On Friday, April 27, Coach Grant secured the athletic services of a current student, Heather Lynn Wyatt, who signed her national letter of intent during a ceremony in the Sheaffer Center.

The Lady Lions are targeting a catcher and a pitcher to go along with a need for hitters to bolster the young team.

By inking Wyatt, Coach Grant fills a major need in building a solid defense; a catcher who will take command of the defense.

“I am so excited to be part of a team where I have the opportunity to really contribute,” Wyatt said after committing to Southwestern. “Coach Grant has encouraged me to be more than a catcher.”

That could mean that she be willing to play some outfield. The implication, though, is towards Wyatt being a leader of the pitching staff and the infield.

Heather’s father, Donnie, joked that she has always been a “take charge” type of player. “When there is a pop-up, everyone will know who the ball belongs to!”

While playing at Class 5A Brazoswood High School (Clute, Tx) under Head Coach Laura Oltman, she won the Lady Buck Award for leadership. Oltman has established a very successful program with the Buccaneers, and Wyatt enjoyed every bit of supplying her part in winning.

She has been attending SAGU for several years, but was unable to play this season due to her role as an RA (Resident Assistant) in the Guynes Dorm.

“I’ve always had a love for the game and can’t wait for fall camp,” she added.

Wyatt is a junior and an Elementary Education major with a minor in World Ministries.

She will be a freshman, eligibility-wise, when the team reports this fall. That's when they will begin conditioning and training. The squad could play several games before they break for the holiday season in November and December.

The 5-foot-8 Wyatt was born in Angleton, which is south of Houston, though nearby Lake Jackson (45 minutes from H-town) is where she calls ‘home.’

The daughter of Donnie and Patty, who attended her signing, Heather has one sister, Katlyn (pronounced like Katelyn). She graduates from Brazoswood H.S. this spring.

About SAGU softball

Southwestern is a dual Division I member in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the National Christian College Athletic Association.

There are nearly 300 member institutions in the NAIA and 106 in the NCCAA. The NCCAA provides competition against Christian colleges in the NCAA Division 2 and 3, the NAIA and other similar college athletic organizations; including regional and national championships.

SAGU competes in the Red River Athletic Conference, which offers eight sports to its affiliates. Fifteen NAIA members from four regional states are in the RRAC.

For more information, visit www.redriverconference.com. Standlings, schedules, results, rosters and statistics can be accessed through the website.

The Lady Lions completed their initial season this year, going 2-27. They play home games at their newly completed campus ballpark.

Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, SAGU Sports Information Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 469-658-2847.