By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

Former Shelby County High School softball standout Meagan Billingsley has played a key role in leading the University of Alabama in Huntsville to the NCAA Division II World Series this spring.

The Chargers (45-4-1) advanced to the World Series following a doubleheader sweep of the University of West Alabama in a best-of-three series May 21 in the NCAA Division II South Super Regional May 20-21.

UAH will meet Midwestern State University in its opening game in the World Series May 26 at 6:30 p.m in Salem, Va.

Billingsley, a sophomore right fielder, is currently batting .317 with five home runs and 29 RBIs.

The highlight of Billingsley’s season thus far came during the Chargers’ sweep of the University of West Florida on March 20.

In the first game of the doubleheader, a 9-1 victory, Billingsley belted home runs in each of her first two plate appearances, including a grand slam. Billingsley had a two-run homer in the second game, a 10-3 win.

Billingsley finished with one hit and drove in three runs in seven plate appearances in her freshman season in 2010.