By Kyle Roberts
RUSTON, La. — From a Bearcat to a Bear.
Ruston High senior softballer Sage Tolar is taking her talents to Summit, Miss., after inking to play for the Bears of Southwest Mississippi Community College.
Tolar, a standout for Ruston at the plate and in the circle held a ceremony Wednesday in the Ruston High School Auditorium in front of her teammates, coaches and family.
“The coaches there made it feel like home,” Tolar said. “It’s a really great school, and it’s got a good psychology program, which is what I want to major in. They believe in me and that I can go further in multiple positions instead of just pitching.”
Ruston High Head Coach Lauren Garvie said she was proud of Tolar and the work she’s put in over her three years as a Lady Bearcat.
“From a softball standpoint, Sage is someone that we have always been able to count on at the plate,” Garvie said. “She’s been our three-hole (hitter) since she was a freshman, which, to be a varsity three-hole since a freshman is huge. She’s always been someone that I know, she’s going to come up and she’s gonna get an RBI — she’s gonna do something for us. And I love that about her.
“From a personal standpoint, Sage has grown drastically, from freshman year to now, our relationship has grown drastically from freshman year to now. I love that … you know exactly what she’s thinking all the time. And it helps me as a coach. So I have loved getting to coach her. All of her personality, from the day she’s too tired to talk to the days that she can’t stop talking. I have loved getting to coach her and I’m so excited to get to go see her play college ball.”
SMCC finished with a 17-29 overall record in the 2024 season. The Bears are coached by Shea Johnson.
