MACON — Sometimes you have a feeling about a player.
Sammy Lindsey took comfort in the fact he wasn’t the only one who saw the potential in Blake Rigdon.
Even though Rigdon was in the fifth grade and had only played slow-pitch softball, Lindsey agreed with Pres Dawkins, his co-coach of the Central Academy fast-pitch softball program at the time, and George Colvin that Rigdon looked like a player.
“She was such an athlete,” Lindsey said. “We just thought she would fit the catcher position, and she more than did that.”
Six years later, Lindsey smiles when Rigdon tells the story of how she was discovered as the Lady Vikings’ next catcher.
Unfortunately for Lindsey, Rigdon’s eligibility finally runs out this school year. She plans to make the most of her last fast-pitch season, though, as one of four senior leaders on a squad that hopes to make a run at the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class A state title.
Rigdon and the Lady Vikings learned some valuable lessons Saturday at the Starkville Academy tournament. Playing against larger classification schools, Central Academy won three games and finished third in the double-elimination event. Losses to eventual tournament champion Leake Academy and Winston Academy, both larger schools, gave Central Academy a taste of the level it will need to reach if it is going to realize its championship dreams.
Rigdon did her part, getting the team’s only hit in the loss to Leake Central and providing solid contributions at the plate and in the other games. For her accomplishments, Rigdon is The Dispatch’s Prep Player of the Week.
Rigdon smiled when she was asked if she felt “old.” She said she doesn’t take the field intending to play a certain way or thinking she has to be a leader. Instead, she feels she takes a lead-by-example approach and does what comes naturally. With her sister, Allie Beth, on the team, Blake said she doesn’t feel any added pressure to set the example for the younger players. She said she is merely following the example other team leaders set to help the team improve.
“I try to be at every practice, even if I am sick or I have something else I have to do,” Rigdon said. “I try to be the leader and a role model to all of the little ones.”
Rigdon was in the fifth grade when coaches approached her and said they needed catchers for the academy’s fast-pitch team and asked if she was interested. She said she was willing to do it to help the team and has been in that spot ever since.
“She had smarts, athleticism, strength,” Lindsey said. “It worked out really well.”
Lindsey said Central Academy likes to play higher classification teams to make sure it is battle tested for the postseason. He liked what he saw from Rigdon at the plate and at catcher in helping the Lady Vikings hang in there against quality opposition. He hopes the younger girls can continue to learn from Rigdon about leadership and the value of hard work and dedication.
“I am glad I have had her for however may years it has been,” Lindsey said. “I have been blessed to have her. I wish I could drop her back.”
If that happened, Rigdon likely would get discovered all over again. As it is, she is still finding new things to improve on and new lessons to teach the younger players.
“They are all my sisters,” Rigdon said of her teammates.
n In prep softball action Monday, Pillow Academy beat Heritage Academy 5-2 in Columbus. In prep soccer, Immanuel beat Bayou Academy 1-0 at Steens. Karigan Johnston scored the lone goal.
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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