MRA makes underdog run to state softball finals
When a team gets hot in the postseason, anything can happen. MRA softball is catching fire in the MAIS 6A state tournament, as the four-seeded Patriots knocked off one-seeded Jackson Prep and three-seeded Presbyterian Christian and find themselves ready to play for a state title against Hartfield Academy.
“These girls that have been at MRA for awhile have had a lot of coaching turnover, but they have really bought in this year,” MRA first-year Head Coach Mary Blair Odom said. “These girls have a whole new group of coaches this year, but still did everything we’ve asked them to do and have put in the work all year.”
MRA is a team on the younger side, with only three seniors on the roster. The Patriots went through some rough patches and growing pains during the regular season, but only got better as the season went along.
“I told them when we got here today that no one expected us to be here,” Odom said. “I have three seniors that have been leaders and have bought in and it’s just been special.”
MRA really started to find their stride towards the end of the season and into the postseason, winning six of their last eight games, including their 3-1 record so far in the state tournament.
Even with the roster being on the younger side, there are several key juniors and seniors on the roster such as Holmes Community College commit McKenzie Blue who is hitting .427 on the season, with three homeruns and 25 RBIs.
Another very valuable player on the Patriots’ postseason run has been sophomore Sienna Smith, who has been dominating both in the circle and at the plate for MRA. Smith is hitting .446 on the year, with four homeruns and 30 RBIs, while also being dominant on the pitching side throughout the postseason for the Patriots, only giving up six runs in three games.
MRA will shift their focus to a best two-out-of-three series with Hartfield Academy, who handed the Patriots their only loss of the state tournament.
“We did a devotion the other day about being the soup,” Odom said. “When you’re the soup as a team, all the ingredients make it one.”
Game one of the series will be at Hartfield Academy on Wednesday, game two will be at MRA on Thursday, and game three, if necessary, will be Saturday back at Hartfield Academy.