When Whitley Parks reached out to Belhaven University about joining its softball program, she was just looking for a job as a team manager or something else that would keep her involved with the sport she loves.

She never imagined a much better offer was coming down the pipe.

Parks, a senior outfielder with Warren Central, received an offer to play for Belhaven. On Thursday she signed with the Jackson school that is one of the country’s best NCAA Division III programs.

“We reached out. I wasn’t intending to play. I was just trying to stay close to the game. They offered me the spot and I took it,” Parks said. “I wasn’t expecting to do as well as I did. To know that it’s possible is very, very exciting.”

Parks had a .324 batting average, with 15 RBIs and 12 runs scored this season, but is not one of Warren Central’s biggest stars. She was a courtesy runner last season, and only had 34 at-bats in 18 starts this year.

Her baserunning skills, defense and leadership were all excellent, however, which led Belhaven to give her a shot. Besides softball, she is involved in several school organizations at Warren Central.

“She just absorbs everything and learns, which put her in the spot she was in this year. I’m super proud of her. I’m excited for her to have this opportunity,” Warren Central coach Brian Ellis said.

Even Parks admitted she was surprised to get the offer. This was her only season as a varsity starter.

“I was in complete shock and was just like, ‘Absolutely. Sign me up,’” she said with a laugh.

Being part of an outstanding Belhaven program is a bonus, she added. The Blazers have reached the NCAA Division III tournament four years in a row. It’ll be five when the brackets are announced May 12, after they won the Collegiate Conference of the South tournament championship last weekend.

Belhaven was the Division III national runner-up in 2024.

“Just to be a part of that alone is what I’m most excited for,” Parks said. “I’ll have to work a lot harder than I’m used to, but I’m ready for it.”

Mostly, she’s happy just to continue her softball career like she hoped — even if it isn’t quite how she planned. The camaraderie of the sport, she said, was something she didn’t want to let go of.

“I’ve played it since forever, but everything else I’ve tried the people weren’t as together,” Parks said. “Being close with everybody is my favorite part of it. The connections and the bonds that you make. It’s a game where you have to play together. It’s not a solo sport. I played basketball in seventh grade and I hated it. No other sport was like softball.”