By: Barry Narramore and Shawn Renfro
It’s that time of year again. South of the River softball time! This year’s five seniors all have years of experience, and are looking forward to tying their cleats for one last season on “The Hill”. Alex Richardson will once again take the mound and throw to her longtime catcher, Christina “Winky” Stansbury. Shade Narramore will return to her starting position at second base, and will be the anchor for a very young Lady Wave infield. Halie Wiley will move from right to center field, and will lead off the batting order for Midway. Alisa Barger will return to her position in left field after a very successful basketball season.
These ladies may very well be the chattiest group in the history of our annual SORSN senior interview. But while they like to talk the talk, they can also walk the walk. In their three high school seasons, these seniors have won two district championships and one region title. They have also made two Sub-State appearances. Expectations are high for the Class of 2013, and we don’t think these girls will let us down!
Let’s hear what our Lady Wave seniors have to say about the upcoming season and other softball-related topics.
SORSN: Ladies, you’ve all been playing this game for years now. As you enter your senior season, tell us the most important thing softball has taught you.
Alex Richardson: Softball has been with me my entire life. First hand experiences have taught me that hard work and dedication go a long way, and that my dad should have gone into professional coaching.
Alisa Barger: I’ve learned that in all situations you have to come to the field ready to play as a team. If everyone works together, the outcome is a lot better. One person can’t get a hit and win it by themselves.
Christina “Winky” Stansbury: Midway softball has taught me that you can have fun and still play hard. It’s more fun when we win games, though.
Halie Wiley: Teamwork, having each other’s back, friendship and sportsmanship.
Shade Narramore: Your team is your family, on and off the field. And just like any other family, we have the weird relative, the quiet relative, the loud and obnoxious relative, the funny one, and the stupid ones. But growing with them, you learn to love each of them.
SORSN: You’ve all been one game away from the State Tournament on two separate occasions. Has being that close to Murfreesboro affected the way you will approach this season?
Winky: Yes, it definitely has changed the way I will approach this season. This team has so much potential. I know we can make it to State. We just have to take advantage of our opportunities. Every time we step on that field, put our gloves on, and step into the batter’s box, we have to be ready to kick some serious booty. We especially have to be ready mentally. We will go to State this year!
Halie: Yes, we have got to have it this year. We are in it to win it. We have so many young players this year. We all must work together and realize it takes a team, not an individual, to make it work. We have to learn to not be selfish, and that it’s all for one and one for all. That’s part of having each other’s back and friendship.
Shade: Oh, State. We’re going this year. We have to. We’ve already talked about it and everything. We have to take it one game at a time. But we’ll get there.
Alisa: We will all be working hard to get back to that game. This time I know I’ll work harder than ever before to win it. It would mean so much to make it to the ‘Boro.
Alex: I think this year, more than any year, we have a very good chance of making it to Murfreesboro. The fact that we have the chance to make it there is always on our minds in practice, motivating us every moment to work a little harder.
SORSN: Is there one key area of your respective individual or team game that you’ve worked on in the off-season?
Alisa: I always work on hitting. Dad gets the pitching machine out, and I hit like ten rounds.
Alex: The mental aspect of the game is 90% of any sport, especially softball. This off-season I have focused on that side of things more than anything. I now understand more of the mental toughness that comes with being a ball player.
Shade: When you say “off-season”, all I can think of is ab-work and kickboxing! (Laughs) It about kicked some of our butts, but it was so worth it. We look good. I think that’s what we were going for. (Smiles)
Winky: I’ve never really had an off-season because of travel ball, and I’m thankful I had the opportunity to play in the summer and fall. It really kept me in the swing of things for Lady Waves softball. My mom is always pointing out every little thing, but I am so glad she’s there to tell me what I’m doing wrong. The things I have worked on the most in the off-season are keeping my shoulder in when hitting and blocking it up when catching. If you ever come to a game, you’ll hear my mom yelling, “Shoulder in, hands back Wink!”. It’s just stuck in my head!
Halie: In getting ready for softball this year, I have just tried to stay focused and realize the value of teamwork and friends. I just love this game! After playing with Winky, Alex and Shade since I was four years old, and Alisa for the last four, I know we couldn’t have done it without each other. I’ll forever cherish our friendship, our great times together, and never forget that these are the best memories of our childhood.
SORSN: As you look at this year’s district, which is the team to beat and why?
Alex: Grace! Grace! Grace! I cannot tell you how much I’ve been waiting to play that game this season, more than any game on the schedule. I have a pretty good feeling about it, too.
Shade: Grace. Why? It’s simple. Because everybody hates Grace.
Halie: Grace Christian Lady Rams. Just because it’s Grace, and no one likes them. And they always show how immature they really are. So it’s always nice to put a whipping on them.
Alisa: Grace is always the team to beat. With all their recruiting, you never know when they’re going to get some all-star from across the world.
Winky: Grace Christian Lady Rams! I’m so pumped after a win against Grace! Even if they recruit another player from New Jersey or any other state or country, the Lady Waves will still put a big whipping on them.
SORSN: Tell us about any memorable events or mishaps that stick out in your minds from your high school, middle school or youth league careers.
Winky: Last year, we were playing at McMinn Central, and Hayley Patterson and I picked a girl off at second. When the umpire went to call her out, he spun around and fell on his face. It was too hard not to laugh at that. I was rolling. (Laughter)
Alex: One of my favorite memories happened when the 12 and under team from Midway went to play a tournament in Fountain City. All of the girls who are seniors, except Alisa, were on this team. We won this tournament, and my dad, who was the coach, almost got into a fight with the other coach. (Laughter) What was most memorable, though, was when all the girls were playing “pepper”. I was the one hitting, and someone pitched to me. I guess I just forgot where I was. I hit the ball way too hard, and it smacked little Halie right in the mouth. To this day, she still has a small knot on her lip. And should I mention that someone had to pull her mouth off her braces? (Laughter) Another memory I have is of a game we played in Kingston. I was standing on third base. I had to pee really, really badly, but the pitcher was walking everyone. Finally, I peed on myself and cried because of the embarrassment. However, I did leave my mark on that place. (Laughter)
Alisa: I remember that when I was in middle school at Oliver Springs, we played in the Inskip Spring Blast tournament until two in the morning. We won the whole thing, but I had never been so tired in my life.
Halie: The story Alex told about the game of “pepper” was the most memorable for me! (Laughter) I wasn’t paying attention and got busted in the mouth. It was pretty bad, but I managed to play the games that day, and there were no stiches involved. And yes, to this day I still have a knot on my lip from it. (Laughter)
Shade: Oh, goodness. (Laughs) There are so many that will forever crack me up. But I guess I’ll have to tell one on my wonderful Uncle Barry. I’ll never forget the story. We were at practice, and Barry kept thinking someone was saying his name out towards left field. But no one could ever figure out what he was talking about. He kept hearing it and looking. Finally, someone solved the mystery. There was a goat in the yard across the road that was “baa-ing”. (Laughter) Barry would be the goat whisperer. (Laughter)
SORSN: Can each of you think of a good story involving one of your teammates, past or present?
Alisa: That is hard considering everyone is always cutting up and having a good time. I don’t know if you would really consider this a story, but every time a game is over we meet out in the outfield to talk about the game and key things we have done. A few of the girls do heel clicks. We started it a few years back, and we’ve just kept it going. So if you ever see anyone jumping and doing heel clicks, you know we have won the game! (Laughter)
Halie: Our freshman year, we were playing at Harriman. Winky doesn’t realize where she’s going, and she walks right through the sewer. (Laughter) It was so disgusting, but we all couldn’t help but laugh about it. (Laughter)
Winky: Oh, Lord… there are too many. Especially between all of the seniors. We always have the craziest moments on the softball field. One funny one has got to be when Shade and Alex were teaching their mammaws how to do the “wobble dance” before a game! (Laughter) I think they can do it better than Wiley can. (Laughter)
Shade: I can think of multiple memories… any other time. (Laughs) It’s just always interesting with us, especially our group of seniors. We don’t even have to be doing anything, and we’ll laugh until we can’t breathe!
Alex: Okay, this is from last year’s district tournament at Greenback. We’re on the field before the game, and I’m warming up to pitch. Wink is catching for me, and the Greenback people are just now lining the field off. There’s a string tied to the fence and down the first base line about three inches off the ground, and it’s being used to make sure the first base line comes out straight. Wink and I are in a deep conversation, and I accidentally pitch one behind her. She’s looking back at me and talking while she goes to pick up the ball. Well, before she gets to the ball, Wink trips over that line and falls right on her face. (Laughter) Needless to say, I am on the ground crying, because I am laughing so hard. And that is definitely the funniest thing that has happened in my high school career. (Laughter)
SORSN: For each of you, what has been your personal favorite game or moment in a game?
Halie: Winky mentioned this earlier, but my favorite moment would probably be the one with the umpire at McMinn Central. He overexaggerates while making the call, and he ends up face-planting the ground. (Laughter) I don’t know how he managed to do that, but it was hilarious. (Laughter)
Alisa: I would have to say last year when we ran all over Grace. They came in thinking it was going to be easy, and then we killed them. Everyone was hitting and fielding everything!
Winky: Our freshman year we played Rockwood in the district finals. All they kept saying was, “Green Machine!”, which sounded ridiculous. And we were getting tired of it. Well, we beat them for the district championship! That game deserved a big heel click at the end. (Laughter)
Alex: So far, my all-time favorite moment in my high school career is from my freshman year. We’re playing Kingston at their place, and it’s the most stressful game I have ever played in, hands down. After the first few innings we’re down, 6-0. I’ve been playing first base up to this point, but then I get moved to pitcher at about the sixth inning. Our offense makes a big comeback, and we tie the game, 6-6. Then, in extra innings, we pull ahead, 10-6. After that, they start scoring and pull within one run, 10-9. It’s the ninth inning and I’m still pitching. The bases are loaded, and we have two outs. The next batter comes to the plate. If I give up another hit, Kingston will win the game, and I know I’ll pass out from the embarrassment of it. I take a deep breath and deliver the pitch. The batter swings… and strikes out! We win the game! I know. It was stressful while you were hearing it! (Laughter)
Shade: Even though I stayed in the dugout, I have to say mine is also that Kingston game. Overtime. And we won by one. Those girls got a slap in the face. And in front of all those people! Not to mention our party at Wild Wings afterward. A celebration always involves food with this bunch. (Laughter)
Alex: Before we finish, I just want to thank a few people who have helped me along this long, hard, but very rewarding road. First and foremost, I’d like to thank my family. My dad has been the motivation, the push, and the biggest help to my becoming the person I am today. My mom was there throughout the hard times and always had my back. A big thanks should go to my sister and brother for putting up with those long weekends. Thanks to Barry Narramore for being the first one to put me on a pitching mound and being an amazing family friend. A big thank you goes out to Todd Wicks for putting me on my first travel ball team and pushing me harder than anyone ever did. Thanks to Rob Viar and Craig Hutchinson for being the first high school coaches I had, and for still supporting me to this day. Thanks to my grandparents, who come to every game they can and are my number one fans. And last, but not least, thanks to all of my church family who come to support me at the games as well.
SORSN: Thank you, Alex, and thanks to all of you. We’re proud to know you, and it’s been a true pleasure to watch you grow as people and as softball players. We want to wish you a wonderful senior season. Go Lady Waves! (Cheering)