Tag Archives: Softball

December 14, 2012 · 1:30 pm

Quinn achieves dream, signs on to play softball for LSU

By: Samantha Papp

Staff Reporter

Constance Quinn, 17, first stepped onto a baseball field at the age of three and transferred to softball at the age of ten.  Quinn has now made the agreement to continue playing softball throughout her college career.

On November 13, Quinn formally signed her commitment to play softball for Louisiana State University.  Quinn is the first softball player from Oak Grove to sign with an SEC school, and this is an accomplishment that Quinn has dreamt of her entire career.  While the idea of playing for a prestigious softball team like LSU may be intimidating to some people, Quinn views the thought as encouraging.  “Knowing that I will be playing on a team that recently went to the World Series is exciting,” Quinn said. “To know that the coaching staff has interest in me and believes that I will be instrumental in the team’s success gives me faith in myself.”

Throughout her softball career, Quinn has been awarded a multitude of honors. Among these honors are four Most Stolen Bases awards, two Most Valuable Offensive Player awards, Most Valuable Player 2011, All-Division player four times, All-State Player 2012, and Gatorade Player of the Year 2012.  Quinn also received the honor of playing in the 2011 Triple Crown Sports All-Star game, which aired on ESPN.

Although Quinn has no difficulty attaining awards, she admitted that attending LSU was not an effortless accomplishment.  Instead of spending her time sitting at home, Quinn took the initiative to practice and work out by herself.  “I’ve had to practice and pray about it every day.  I worked on my techniques and mechanics, and I mentally prepared myself,” Quinn explained.

Quinn has overcome numerous adversities throughout her recruiting journey.  “I’ve been in slumps, and sometimes my focus wasn’t on the correct thing,” Quinn said.  “I knew there was a reason for my being in a certain situation, and that God wouldn’t put me under anything I couldn’t handle. I prayed and asked God for His help.”

While numerous other opportunities were available, Quinn explained that she has never wanted to attend any school aside from LSU.   Quinn has been on numerous unofficial visits to the school, beginning her freshman year.  “One visit, the recruits and I were watching a sports highlight video from one of the games, and butterflies hit me,” Quinn said. “I knew then that LSU was exactly where I needed to be. I have definitely achieved my dream by going to LSU.”

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November 9, 2012 · 12:30 pm

Baseball, softball players bat against breast cancer

PLAYING FOR A CAUSE
Senior Payton Sheffield explains her senior project and introduces breast cancer survivor Donna Stanley to throw out the first pitch at her ‘pink’ softball game. | Photo by Mary Kate Waldron

By: Taylor Parsons

Staff Reporter

Payton Sheffield grew up playing softball. “When I was little, I used to watch all these ‘pink’ games, and I’ve known since middle school that I wanted to do one,” Sheffield said. A pink game is a softball game which is used as a fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness. The $372 made from Sheffield’s game, which was held October 29, went to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The first pitch was thrown by breast cancer survivor, Donna Stanley. Before Stanley threw the pitch, Sheffield said, “You always had a smile on your face; thank you for that.” From there, the game began.

Boys and girls went head-to-head in a softball game with a trophy of bragging rights, lead by the competitive boyfriend/girlfriend duo of Jansen Bounds and Samantha Papp. Although Papp predicted a terrible loss to the boys’ team, everyone came out, knowing it was only a game, with a goal of raising funds, support, and awareness.

Both boys and girls showed off their pink wear. Girls sported pink glitter war paint and a variety of pink headbands, bows, and ribbons. The boys, unexpectedly, took an even more feminine approach. Ryan Cone dressed up his game t-shirt with a hot pink sports bra on the outside, complimented by pink zebra-print leggings, and Kirk McCarty decked out his jersey with tiny pink shorts and white tights. This game was one with style.

Commentary was provided by the witty pair of Andrew Adams and MacAlister Parker. While Adams and Parker took their swings of the bat for the boys team, Kirk McCarty took over the commentary. From there, the honor of commentary was passed to John Addison Ford, who took it upon himself to report his game findings from sitting behind second base.

Although the commentary microphone switched from reporter to reporter, the title for MVP of the girls’ team sits rightfully in Kristen Martin’s hands. “We were all really there to have fun,” Martin said. Martin is a regular on the softball field, and that certainly came in handy in the game.

Contrary to Papp’s initial bet, the girls came out with a 24-18 win over their scantily clad opponents. “I love how I can remind Jansen whenever I want that my team won, but then again, he got me out, so I can’t brag too much,” said Papp. Bounds responded, “It was a tough loss, but we all had fun, and that’s all that matters.”

Payton Sheffield’s Pink Softball game was a hit among students and parents alike. In the words of Kristen Martin, “We were doing something beneficial for those who have or had breast cancer, and we had so much fun doing it.”

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April 13, 2012 · 1:30 am

Softball heats up with district play

by: Kirk McCarty

Guest Reporter

Right-handed ace Mahalia Gibson, sophomore, propels a pitch to the plate in a recent match-up against Hattiesburg High, her first game back from an injury. / Photo by Raven Jones

The team goal this year: win a state championship. Halfway through the regular season, the Lady Warrior softball team sits at  12-2.  Due to Mother Nature’s wrath, the Warriors have had five games rained out and have played three district games so far this season, those being dominating wins over Meridian, Petal, and Hattiesburg.

This year’s Warrior team is led by a very talented group of seniors. Kelsea Lewis and Heather Boutwell have both been starting since their eighth grade years and are committed to continuing their softball careers at Pearl River Community College, while other senior starters include 2nd basemen Aston Vincent and pitcher Stefani Cayten.

The pitching staff has had to really step up early in the season due to the loss of ace Mahalia Gibson who was forced to have surgery on her throwing hand pinky. Peyton Sheffield and Stefani Cayten have definitely done just that for the Warriors. Sheffield has logged 37 innings already this season with an impressive 1.14 ERA (earned run average). Cayten is right behind her with 27 innings and a 1.30 ERA.

The Warriors have been a force at the plate as well posting a team batting average of .375. Kelsea Lewis leads the team with an average of .484 followed by Constance Quinn and Carly Crawford who are hitting .458 and .457, respectively.

Great stats are, well, great, but what really sets apart this team is their attitude and mindset to win games. “Our team has a lot of heart, and when we get down, we spring right back up,” said senior first baseman Heather Boutwell. “We all have the same mindset to win.”

The Warriors will really find out what they’re made of in the next couple of weeks when district play really heats up.  Oak Grove will take on HHS, Petal, and Meridian one more time before the season’s end. Senior night and the game many fans will attend with cowbells in hand, takes place at Warrior field on April 17 against the one and only Petal Panthers. Come support the Warriors on their quest for a ring this season.

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