The apparent end to the high school spring sports season in Mississippi is difficult for all athletes. That is especially true for seniors who have probably seen their high school careers come to an end.
Such is the case for Caden Miles and Sierra Jones, co-captains of the Choctaw County softball team and the only two seniors on the team. Both have been playing for the Lady Chargers since seventh grade and neither plans to continue the sport at the collegiate level.
“It feels like a little bit of a shock that it ended the way it did,” Jones said. “I think we are all in a little bit of shock.”
She has accepted the fact that there likely will not be any more softball this year. “It's sad because I expected to have my senior year. But that's the way it is. It's out of anybody's control.”
Miles said “It taught me not to take things for granted. I've probably played my last softball game I will ever play, and I didn't even know it. I'm lucky that I did get to play a little bit this year.”
Choctaw County played four games before the Coronavirus pandemic closed schools.
“Caden and Sierra have been valuable assets to the Lady Chargers and to me as their coach,” said Lauren Fancher. “These girls have helped me in every way asked of them. They've helped me with field work tasks, fund raising chores and uniform designs. But they have helped the most in coaching up the the young ones. They are well respected on the field. They are exceptional young ladies.”
Jones played first base and was the leadoff batter. “She's the one we can trust to put the ball in play and get on base or move runners for us,” Fancher said. “I am most proud of Lou's (Jones) persistence. During her freshman and sophomore years, there was always an older girl ahead of her at first base. She could have easily decided that she didn't want to wait in line anymore. She could have quit, but she never did.”
Miles moved behind the plate as catcher last year to fill a void after playing in the infield and outfield.
“I think she thought I was crazy last year when I told her that I was moving her to catcher as a junior. But she knows everyone's job and doesn't mind telling them what their job is, so that was the move that had to be made,” Fancher said. “She never questioned that decision. Instead, she embraced it, worked at it, and let me tell you, that girl will lower her shoulder and absolutely bulldoze anyone coming home. She gets excited about a play at the plate. She likes the pressure.”
“I love it,” Miles said of catching. “I was always involved. Every play I was doing something. I wasn't getting bored like sometimes in the outfield.”
Miles also plays volleyball for Choctaw County and was a key member of the team that reached the second round of the MHSAA Class I playoffs in the fall with a team leading 345 assists.
Jones is a cheerleader.
Jones and Miles could be classmates, if not teammates, the next two years. Jones plans to go to East Mississippi Community College “to get my basics, then pursue a degree in nursing.”
Miles said she will probably go to East Mississippi. “But that could change and I might go to (Mississippi) State. I haven't really made up my mind.” She hopes to be a physical therapist.
“I hate that Caden's and Sierra's senior season, their final season as Chargers, has shaped up to be this way,” Fancher said. “We are still holding to some hope that these two girls get to experience their softball senior night and end this chapter with some kind of closure.”
