STARKVILLE — Leake Academy pitcher Hannah Moore and Starkville Academy shortstop Mary Austin Barber are highly regarded senior softball players.
Each played a major role this summer helping their travel ball squads compete for regional and national championships. Now, they are back with their high school teams and things have taken a slight turn.
Leake Academy entered the Starkville Academy Invitational on Saturday morning riding a 70-game win streak. Meanwhile, Starkville Academy was looking for a little confidence and a chance to win its first game of the season.
“The summer was really packed,” Barber said, “Last weekend, we played seven games in one day, starting at 7 in the morning and getting through slightly past 9 at night. You have to love the sport to play this much softball.”
Barber played shortstop for the Mississippi Blast, a travel team out of Ridgeland. The Blast completed its summer schedule by winning the USFA national championship. A lengthy summer ended with the team playing an all-day marathon last Saturday. Oak Hill Academy junior Maegen Ellis also played on the squad.
“We played in Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama, and Gulfport at some time during the summer,” Barber said. “I have been with the Blast for three years, and it has been a great experience. I have traveled and gotten to see a lot of the country. My game has improved as well. When you love something like I do, you take pride in it and work hard at it.”
Moore also had an eventful summer. After helping guide the Lady Rebels to a repeat state fast-pitch championship last fall, she returned to softball full steam this summer with the Germantown Red Devils, a travel team from Germantown, Tenn.
“I spent the summer playing with a bunch of college players and that made me a much better player,” Moore said. “My teammates were doing their running, conditioning, weight lifting. They were following college workout programs. I learned so much from being around them each and every day.”
Moore has committed to the University of Southern Mississippi. As a junior, Moore went 25-0 with a 0.16 ERA. She also paced the team with a .660 batting average.
“I have played softball since I was like 5 years old,” Moore said. “However, I didn’t start out pitching. Once I started pitching, I really had a hunger for the game. Being in the circle made it an individual competition between the batter and me. Once I started pitching, I totally fell in love with the game. It was like I really didn’t want to do anything else.”
Barber said a player has to love the game to reach their full potential. The ability to lift weights, to work out, and to play competitive ball in the summer helps separate the better softball players.
“I learned about travel softball pretty late in my career,” Barber said. “I would really tell any of my teammates or any other players that if you want to be the best you can at the sport, you need to play all you can. Playing summer ball allows you that opportunity. However, you have to be dedicated. You really have to have a passion and you have to really want to work at it.”
Playing 10-12 tournaments each summer has helped Moore evolve as a pitcher. It also helped her become a more complete player.
“It is all about repetitions,” Moore said. “First to third plays, making the cuts, everything is emphasized over and over, much moreso than it is in high school. I think the best thing about playing during the summer is you are put in these situations over and over.”
The Germantown Red Devils played in multiple college exposure tournaments in the summer. The team also played in the National Amateur Softball Association qualifiers at Oklahoma City. Playing against some of the nation’s best has helped Moore refine her skills. It also gave her an appreciation for the differences in the two games.
“The biggest difference is the speed of the game,” Moore said. “On these travel teams, you are playing with others players from other states. Everybody on that level is good. Everything is quicker. Pitching the ball, hitting the ball, running the bases, making the plays defensively. Everything happens at a much quicker pace. When you get back to playing with your high school team, it’s a major adjustment.”
Barber agrees. After staying busy this summer, she is back home, adjusting to life as the only senior on her high school team.
“It’s a challenge,” Barber said. “The game is played at a different level in high school. Still, you learn some things about yourself during the summer. Not only do you learn ways to become a better player, but you also learn ways to become a better leader. That is what I am trying to share with my teammates now.”
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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