Seniors Emily Moser and Elizabeth Basha represented Lee Academy in Class 3A-4A-5A MAIS All-Star Games Oct. 14 at Freedom Ridge Park in Ridgeland.
Moser, a second baseman and shortstop, was on the Navy team for softball that defeated the Gray team 4-1. Basha, a forward/central/attacking midfielder, was on the Navy team that tied the Gray team 2-2. There was no overtime.
“I made a lot of new friends and it was very fun,” Moser said. “We got to the park and we practiced that morning. Then we had a luncheon. Then we practiced again. Then we started our game.”
Moser played shortstop one inning and second base three innings. She had two at bats with one strikeout and one flyout to right center field.
She did prevent an extra base hit at shortstop.
“I had a line drive hit to me,” Moser said. “I knocked it down. I didn’t catch it. I stopped it from getting in the outfield.”
In a seven-inning game, Moser was 12th in the batting order out of 18 hitters. She wore No. 14 and was No. 4 at Lee.
“We just swapped in and out,” Moser said. “I got to play four innings. Some girls got to play three innings. The batting order stayed the game the whole time so I got two at bats. Some people only got one.”
Moser said four of her teams runs came on a two-run home run and solo homer. The game lasted just two hours.
“It was tougher just because there were girls with a lot of experience there and they’re very athletic,” Moser said.
Moser enjoyed playing with Mary Ansley Chrestman from Bayou Academy. Chrestman is the daughter of John Chrestman and Mary Margaret Kovac. Moser and Chrestman went school together when they were younger.
“We got to play together again,” Moser said. “We used to play together when we were little. I made from other friends from schools all over.”
Moser expressed appreciation toward her coach, Brett Prosek, who is the Magnolia Heights School softball coach.
Basha also enjoyed her game,
“I did OK. It was new playing with a bunch of experienced players,” Basha said.
“There was a lot of competition. There were a lot of very good players committed to some colleges. It was really fun to see a lot of people play very well.”
Basha played for 45 minutes and the game had three 30-minute periods.
“There was a faster pace for sure,” she said. “The defenders were much stronger than the defenders I play again.”
Basha enjoyed the entire experience and felt her team did well given the conditions.
“The lunch was good,” she said. “We got to talk to people and meet people from schools I’ve never played against.
“I think it was harder to get the chemistry because we just showed up and practiced together. A lot of people didn’t know each other’s names. It was harder to get chemistry. I think we played well considering the circumstances.”
Basha did make a couple of passes getting her team in position to score. She estimated each team had five shots on goal.
“It was a really good experience,” Basha said. “I’m glad I got to experience it and I’m thankful for my coaches.”
