New coach at the helm, Lady Arrows finish season in Class 6A Playoffs

By Datti Jinkiri

“We showed a hunger to compete.”

These words from CHS fast pitch softball head coach Rachel Hurley encapsulate her feelings around her team after the conclusion of the season. The Lady Arrows finished with a 13-16 record and made an appearance in the MHSAA Class 6A Playoffs. They showed a lot of growth throughout the season, which is exactly what you would expect from a team that fielded a team of mainly underclassmen.

“Looking back on the year, I think we didn’t finish as well as we wanted, but we grew leaps and bounds from the team that took the field in August,” Hurley said. “This year was a great year to lay a foundation for the expectations for the program.”

An upgrade in facilities meant that the Lady Arrows played on a newly-renovated home field this season. However, the ongoing construction affected their practice and preparation in the fall. But, in turn, this became a plus, as it helped them learn to deal with adversity.

“One of our goals we set this fall was to make sure when we were able to get on the beautiful new facility in January, we were able to take full advantage of it,” Hurley stated.
“Our motto has been to be #ARROWSTRONG, meaning that no matter what circumstance you’re under, giving your best effort and attitude will always pay off in the end. I think we played a lot of tough competition, and we showed that we can truly compete, which is exactly what we wanted.”

And compete, they did. The Lady Arrows showed some wonderful spurts of offense this season, scoring nine or more runs in eleven games. Junior catcher Olivia Rees was solid at the dish all season, leading the Lady Arrows in batting average (.366), on base percentage (.443), and hits (34). She also drove in 19 runs, which was tied for fourth on the team. Senior infielder Olivia Guthrie was right behind her, accumulating a .333 batting average and tallying 27 hits and 14 RBIs.

The young players stepped up, as well, with two notable players being freshmen Estrella Constancio and Mackenzie Cooley. Constancio pitched a team-high 153 innings and finished with a 9-2 record in the circle. Offensively, she had 27 hits, 11 doubles, and 21 RBIs. Cooley had a hot bat all season, leading the Lady Arrows in RBIs (22) and home runs (3). Defensively, she led the team in putouts (104) and assists (11).

“We were really young in some areas, but the great part about being a young team is they all get to ‘grow up’ together,” Hurley said.

“They get to learn from different scenarios and game situations, and the goal is to grow from it and be better the next time it happens,” she added. “They made big plays, came up with big hits, and stepped up just like I would expect from a junior or a senior.”

“Just because some of the starters were seventh and eighth graders, our expectations didn’t change for them. And the most important thing is they never changed them for themselves, either.”

Having consistent expectations of one’s self is part of what helps players excel at the collegiate level. Hurley played softball at Mississippi State and eventually Mississippi College, where she earned All-Region and All-Conference honors. She knows what it takes for her players to make it to the next level, and is happy for the opportunity to pass on her knowledge to the next generation.

“Developing players has always been a goal of mine since I began coaching,” she stated.

“Whether the girls want to play on the collegiate level or not, them being fundamentally sound and excited about a game that they love is something I’m truly passionate about.”

“This game has given me so many different opportunities, and I’m blessed to be able to do something that I truly love every day, and I think it’s important for them to remember that, as well.”

Hurley has also made it a priority to develop players off the field.

“Teaching our players how to be accountable and to persevere through different outcomes is one major area that we work on,” she added.

“Focusing on the fundamentals is always important and is something that we spent time on each day, because the little things can always carry you a long way.”

With preparation for the 2023 season already underway, Hurley and her Lady Arrows are motivated and ready to build on what they started this past season.