Rusk junior pitcher Sydney Littlejohn recently committed to play at Alabama. (Courtesy Photo)

Although Sydney Littlejohn is a junior at Rusk High School, she already knows where she will spend her college days — the University of Alabama.

Littlejohn, one of the top softball pitchers in Texas, made an oral commitment to attend the Tuscaloosa, Ala., school.

“I’ve been to their camp twice and the first time I went I just fell in love with the campus,” said Littlejohn, a Tyler Morning Telegraph All-East Texas pitcher as a sophomore. “I’m thrilled I have the opportunity.”

She also added the community reminded her of East Texas, which made her feel comfortable.

Last season, Littlejohn, daughter of Lynn and Paul Littlejohn, struck out 289 batters and walked only 34. She tossed 17 shutouts, including a perfect game. She was Most Valuable Player of District 17-3A and was a member of the Texas High School Girls Coaches Association All-State team.

Littlejohn had narrowed her choices to Alabama, Mississippi State, Arkansas and Illinois before choosing the Crimson Tide. She had more than a dozen offers.

“The opportunity to play in the Southeastern Conference,” was also appealing she said.

Alabama won the SEC last year and finished the season ranked No. 9 by USA Today.

The Crimson Tide (52-11) lost in the Super Regional to Hawaii, just short of the College World Series. They had three All-Americans last season — Charlotte Morgan, Kayla Braud and Kelsi Dunne.

Patrick Murphy is head coach at Alabama and has compiled a record of 631-179 in 12 seasons.

Littlejohn, who began playing softball at age 8, had a busy summer traveling to Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma and California with her Texas Glory-Naudin team, which is based out of Richardson.

She helped lead her team to the national runner-up in the Premier 16 & Under Tournament in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Before going to Texas Glory, she played for Bad Attitude out of Nacogdoches and for Anthony Springer and Sneaky Cleats out of Tyler.

Also, she played for Mineola Showtime, coached by Ricky Hass and was a teammate of another premier pitcher, Rikkilyn Hass.

“Sydney learned a lot of basics about playing softball fromAnthony,” mother Lynn Littlejohn stated. “Our family can’t say enough good things about Anthony.”

She also complimented coach Hass, coach Brady Rice of Nacogdoches and pitching coach Amanda Scarborough out of Houston.

Scarborough played at Texas A&M.

Littlejohn, who is ranked No. 4 in her class, hopes to major in physical therapy at Alabama.