By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Harmony High shortstop Brittany Bruns is concentrating on helping the Lady Longhorns softball team reach the regional playoffs for the fifth consecutive time.

She already knows where she will be playing next season, after she graduates, because she signed a softball grant to Chipola College in Marianna at the school’s media center recently.

Chipola is one of the strongest junior college programs in the nation, placing fifth at last year’s national tournament with a 49-12 record under coach Belinda Hendrix. The Indians won the 2007 national championship.

“That is one reason I chose Chipola, it is a team that has had a lot of success,” she said.

Bruns, the daughter of Tom and Diane Bruns, also likes the fact that more than 100 Chipola players have earned scholarships to four-year programs since 1997.

“That is definitely in my plans,” Bruns said.

Bruns said the Chipola coaching staff noticed her at a college showcase. After she made her official visit there was no doubt in Bruns’ mind that she wanted to join the Lady Indians’ program.

“It’s a perfect fit for me. They treat all of their girls like family there. It’s a lot like St. Cloud, it’s a small town. I feel comfortable there,” she said.

Bruns will play the outfield in college.

“That’s what I play in travel ball all the time,” she said. “I played shortstop here because when I was a freshman, it turned out to be a position that needed filled, and I could do it.”

Bruns said she may major in sports medicine, or perhaps sports management, in college.

For now, she wants to help the Lady Longhorns return to the playoffs. Harmony was a district runner-up last season after reaching the regional finals two years ago.

“We have a lot of young girls on the team who are finding their places right now. I think we’re going to be fine,” she said.

Bruns knows what she’s talking about.

Harmony clinched the No. 1 seed at the 4A District 6 tournament last week with a 3-1 victory at Tavares.