SOFTBALL

Crockett's Myers named Softball Hitter of the Year

Michael Odom
Jackson Sun

For the past decade, the Crockett County softball team has struggled to get out of the district tournament.

With a new coach and a new mentality, the Lady Cavaliers advanced to the Region 7-AA semifinals.

Junior Madison Myers played a key role in the success of the team this season as she led West Tennessee in batting average.

Crockett County's Madison Myers is the 2017 All-West Tennessee Softball Hitter of the Year.

Myers finished the season with .608 batting average to go along with 65 runs scored, 10 doubles and 16 RBI to be named the 2017 All-West Tennessee Softball Hitter of the Year.

"I started taking Coach Baron [Jimmerson], one of my travel ball coaches, and he helped my swing a lot," Myers said. "I try to slap of drag it every time I step into the box. My mindset when I step into the box is that I am going to get on base."

Myers job was to get on base and try to spark some offense in the first inning. And with that batting average, Myers was successful in her job more than she wasn't.

But Crockett County isn't accustomed to success on the softball field in recent years, so there had to be a turning point in the season when this team started to believe.

"When we beat Dyersburg the first time, that was a big moment for us," Myers said.

The Lady Cavaliers entered the District 13-AA tournament as a No. 3 seed and finished as runner-up for that first region berth in a decade.

"It was fun, and the coaches helped us a lot," Myers said. "Coach [J.R.] Kirby made a big difference this year - his coaching and motivation."

This Crockett County team started putting in the work when Kirby arrived to take the next step. Myers and her teammates will put the same amount of work in during this offseason to see if the team can progress farther.

Crockett County did fall short of Myers' goal of reaching the state tournament, but she feels that next year could be the year.

"I thought we were going to make it to state, but I feel like we can make it this coming year," Myers said. "My goal is to be better than I was this year."

Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.