SENATH — Two Senath-Hornersville High School student-athletes on Friday made it official signing National Letters of Intent to continue playing the sports they love on the collegiate level.

Senath-Hornersville softball player Kaya Horton signed with start-up program Arkansas State University-Mountain Home.

Lion catcher Jesus “Chuy” Mendoza will join the baseball program at Crowley’s Ridge College in Paragould.

Senath-Hornersville catcher Jesus “Chuy” Mendoza signs to join the baseball program at Crowley’s Ridge in nearby Paragould, Ark. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

Horton and Mendoza conducted their signings in front of students and fans in the high school gymnasium.

Horton had an official visit to ASU-Mountain Home in September, joined by Senath-Hornersville head softball coach Melani Rooney.

“We looked at the film on her, and she had a campus workout,” ASU-Mountain Home head coach JoAnn Baeten said. “She has a cannon for an arm, and can hit the ball well, too.”

Senath-Hornersville outfielder Kaya Horton signs to join the softball program at ASU-Mountain Home. Horton reported she will be a nursing major. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

Baeten said Horton could play any or all three outfield positions when she joins the Trailblazers next season.

The Trailblazers are in their first year of existence. ASU-Mountain Home also offers baseball, competing in NJCAA Division II, and intramural bass fishing.

Horton had a fantastic junior season, with 42 hits, including 15 doubles, two HR and 26 RBIs. She recorded a .583 batting average and .634 on-base percentage.

Senath-Hornersville baseball player Jesus "Chuy" Mendoza is flanked by his parents Mica and Jesus Mendoza, and Crowley's Ridge assistant coach Tray Malone and Pioneers' head coach Brenden Camp. (Photo by Eric Viccaro, staff)

Senath-Hornersville (which has a coop with Southland) finished the 2023 season with a 15-6 record. Malden eliminated the Lions in the second round of the Class 2 District 1 tournament by one run.

“I’ve worked hard my entire childhood to get to where I am now,” Horton said, recalling her early beginnings as a member of the Senath Sassy Sluggers. “This means the world to me.”

Horton reported she will major in nursing at ASU-Mountain Home, a public community college serving about 1,500 students each year. Many nurses trained at the school eventually work for Baxter Regional Medical Center in that city.

“I’m super proud of her, and can’t wait to see what she does,” Rooney said during her speech to the crowd.

Crowley’s Ridge College has connected a pipeline to The Bootheel for student-athletes.

The school features an enrollment of more than 200 students, with many of them playing sports.

Among those students are former Holcomb basketball player Braiden Burk and softball players Kagan Teal (Delta C-7), Hannah Burk (Holcomb) and Bailey Cupples (Holcomb).

Pioneer head coach Brenden Camp and assistant coach Tray Malone attended Mendoza’s signing ceremony.

“We’re excited to have Chuy,” Camp said. “He’s got a good work ethic, and we think he’ll project to be a good player for us.”

Mendoza is expected to focus primarily on playing catcher for Crowley’s Ridge, which finished the 2023 season 15-21 (including 8-6 in the NAIA Division I Centennial Division).

“I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do,” Senath-Hornersville head coach/athletic director Chris McClain said. “I think he has a great opportunity.”

“When I first visited the school, it felt like home,” Mendoza said. “It felt like a small town.”

Crowley’s Ridge is nestled in the northwest corner of Paragould, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Mendoza said he will be a general studies major, with the career goal of becoming an electrician after college.

“I’ve played a lot of games behind the plate,” Mendoza said, touting his experience as a catcher.

Mendoza registered a .345 batting average with 19 hits, 15 RBI and 21 runs — reaching base 37 times overall. Defensively, he finished with 105 putouts, 13 assists and a .908 fielding percentage.

Senath-Hornersville was 12-8 during the spring 2023 season, eliminated by Holcomb 2-1 in the opening round of the Class 2 District 1 tournament. This fall, the Lions went 13-5, finishing third in the season-ending Bernie Tournament.

Kaya Horton is the daughter of Billy and Keythlea Horton, a teacher in the Senath-Hornersville school district. Mendoza is the son of Jesus and Mica Mendoza.