NEW HOPE — After three years playing softball at Hartfield Academy, Ajah Mills moved from Flowood to Lowndes County and New Hope High School.
Now in her second season as a Trojan, Mills almost immediately took on a leadership role and has been one of the key cogs in the program.
On Tuesday, the “team mom” of New Hope softball etched her name as the third player to sign to play collegiately, with Mills set to play at Mississippi Delta Community College.
“I do think it’s an accurate description,” Mills said. “I go around, always helping, telling them, ‘You can do this,’ giving advice. … It’s something that happened naturally. I didn’t expect that. I’ve definitely grown as a player and an individual, from being shy to being more open about myself.”
She grew out of her shell quickly with the Trojans, and has blossomed off and on the field, where she’s versatile, playing as a middle infielder and outfielder.
That’s thanks in large part to her speed, a tool that the New Hope coaching staff has used to her advantage, turning her into a switch hitter who’s a slap hitter from the left side.
Speed kills, and Mills has been a speed demon.
“She’s super quick, so we know if she can get the ball on the ground in play, she’s got a good chance of getting on base,” assistant coach Ryan McTaggart said. “… She’s an impact player. She’s done great for us offensively and defensively, but I think she’s had a bigger impact on our players as a role model.”
That leadership mentality has now morphed into the opportunity to play college softball, heading down Route 82 to play for the Trojans in Moorhead.
Mississippi Delta is a program in need of a spark, winning just two games in 2023, and Mills hopes to be the player to provide that spark on the field, in the dugout and in the locker room.
“The coaches and their experience, it just felt like that’s where I needed to be,” Mills said. “I went there and I was like ‘Yeah, this is it right here.’”
New Hope is a few games into its 2024 season as the Trojans look to put together a strong regular season in advance of a deep postseason run, and Mills doesn’t intend to waste it.
She no longer has to worry about her college plans, so all that’s left for her is to show out on the softball diamond. She’s enjoyed what’s happened so far, but she’s even more excited for what’s to come, as are her teammates and coaches.
“She can just relax, enjoy her senior season and be ready to go into next season as a freshman,” McTaggart said.
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