By Bobby Mathews, Sports Editor
MOODY — Blue Devils first base player McKenzie Phillips signed a letter of intent on Tuesday to play softball for Huntingdon College.
Phillips has set a huge example for teammates to follow, her coach said during the signing ceremony.
“I am so proud and excited for McKenzie. She is living proof that if you work hard enough, you can achieve anything you put your mind to,” Moody softball coach Becky Seymour said. “She is everything a student athlete should be: dedicated, ambitious, motivated, driven, and above all else, competitive and focused. It is those qualities that I look forward to having another year. It is those qualities that make her a great leader and an even better teammate and young woman. I know without a doubt in my mind that McKenzie will be a far greater success than even she has imagined at Huntingdon and I am so excited we get to be a small part of her journey.”
Phillips,17, has been playing since she was six years old. She plans to study engineering, said that her experience visiting Huntingdon helped her make up her mind on where to attend college.
“Everything about Huntingdon, I loved,” Phillips said. “When I visited, I loved the architecture. It’s a beautiful place, small class sizes. It’s also a very friendly atmosphere. I felt very welcomed and loved, and that’s where I want to make my home.”
Her travel ball coach, Matt Diffy, has seen Phillips grow and change over the four years he’s been her coach.
“Her attitude toward the game has been so consistent,” Diffy said. “Wherever I’ve needed her to play, she’s done it. She’s worked so hard in the batting cage, and I was lucky enough to see the first ball she hit over the fence.
Coaches characterized Phillips as selfless in class and on the field, showing her character through her hard work and good choices. That’s an example she plans to continue through her senior season in the spring of 2022.
“The best thing about playing softball is the memories you make with your teammates and friends,” Phillips said. “I’m looking forward to making some more of those this coming season.”