4/3/23
By Kevin Taylor
Alma Schools
One look at Makinzie Erwin’s academic schedule speaks volumes about her future.
Anatomy, Quantitative Literature, Civics, English.
“I want to major in education,” she said. “I want to coach.”
Erwin and the Lady Airedales’ softball team will battle Russellville on Monday in a key 5A-West matchup. Alma opened up a 7-3 mark in league play last year before losing its final two doubleheaders.
That’s not all they lost, either.
Alma is essentially rebuilding around a handful of senior holdovers, including veterans Erwin and Jocelyn Harless.
“You can’t always get down on yourself; you always have to have a positive attitude about everything,” Erwin said. “You can’t get down, because it can affect your team, too.
“If you have a good mindset, that will help you hype people up and keep the good energy.”
“She (Erwin) is a good teammate and leader this year,” Alma coach Charla Parrish said. “We also have Jocelyn Harless and Jenna Williams, who are senior leaders.
“Kinzie is a hard worker, and it shows on the field. She could play any position I asked her to play.”
Even third base.
“It’s been hard,” Erwin said. “(But) CP prepared me pretty well, I think. She practices with me every day, and I feel like I get better every day. She’s helped me work on stuff so I can get used to in-game situations.”
“Playing outfield, you have a little more time to react to the ball,” Parrish said. “Third base is the hot spot. The ball can get there quickly, and you do not have much time to react. You also have to be quick to cover bunts.”
Erwin has also settled in as the team’s leadoff hitter.
Through 12 games, she’s hitting .393 with 15 runs, two doubles, and a home run. She went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and a pair of RBIs in the Airedales’ 11-6 win over Scranton on Saturday at the Van Buren Tournament.
The Lady Airedales, who were slated to compete in the River Valley Rumble over the weekend, graduated two key pieces last May in the form of Makenzie Martin and Taelynn Perry. Both were four-year contributors, with Martin handling most of the pitching duties and Perry anchoring third base.
“Not having (a veteran pitcher), it’s been a little hard to go out there and have the confidence we had when we had Makenzie Martin,” Erwin said. “We’ve had to almost rebuild our team. We had Martin for four years, and the three years that I’ve been here. So losing her my senior year, and trying to rebuild off of that, we’ve had to make a lot of changes, including me moving from center field to third base.
“But I know the coach is doing what’s best for our team.’
Makinzie has transitioned from the outfield to the infield extremely well,” Parrish said. I think she is getting more comfortable there as the season has gone on. She has also started pitching this summer we needed extra pitchers. She has made the transition very well.”
Erwin credits her dad, Chazz, with helping to guide her through high school. An honor student, Erwin takes a heavy academic load.
“Studying and stuff like that, and missing school because of games, it’s not too awful,” she said. “Sometimes it gets a little tiring and stressful. You just have to make time for it on the weekends you have time.”
Erwin is the oldest of three daughters (Gracie is a ninth grader and Lilly is in the fourth grade).
“He’s done a great job. He’s a single dad of three girls. I think he’s doing a great job,” she said. “He’s taught me to do my best and to never get down on myself and always do the absolute best,” Erwin said.
She noted not having her dad coach her through little league and travel ball was probably a good thing.
“To me, I think it’s a good thing because I never really actually listened to him,” Erwin said. “He’s always been right with the things he’s told me. I’ve actually never listened to him until here lately.”
Erwin credits Parrish and her math teacher, Alice Sikes, with being good role models.
“She’s (Parrish) always trying to make us get better and to be better people,” Erwin said. “Mrs. Sikes has really been there.”
Erwin, who signed early (last fall) with the University of the Ozarks, where she plans to continue her softball career, said she takes representing her school seriously.
“I know some people don’t always represent in the right way, but I think when you’re representing the school you’re almost like a leader. You’re not necessarily a leader to the whole school, but maybe to a few people, but you’re there to show people this (leadership) is what it should look like.
“Bad sportsmanship is not a way to represent your school. You want to represent your school in a good way and you want to keep a good attitude.”