Two Lee Academy senior girls were able to showcase their talents one last time as a reward for strong careers with trips to MAIS All-Star Games.
Maddie Riddick, a goalie for the Fillies soccer team, played in her all-star game at Jackson Prep. All soccer players were split into two teams. Shelton Johnson, a center fielder for the Fillies softball team, also played her game at Jackson Prep. The Class 3A and 4A players were split into two teams for softball. Lee Academy is a 4A school.
“It was really a fun experience playing with all of the talented players at the all-star game,” Riddick said. “I’m grateful I got to experience it.”
Johnson concurred.
“It was a good accomplishment and fun to meet new people,” she said. “It was a good experience.”
Riddick’s game ended with the two teams tying 1-1 and she got a bloody nose after being kicked in the face. She gave up one goal and estimated she had 10 saves playing more than half the game.
Riddick plans to attend Ole Miss and study law next year and appreciated the opportunity to play soccer one last time.
“It was really fun getting to play with people that are going to play in college and all of the talented people,” Riddick said.
She averaged more than 10 saves per game during the year.
“I made a lot of good friendships and it taught me how to be disciplined in sports and school,” Riddick said.
The Fillies were not a playoff team, but the wins they had in 2018 created fond memories for Riddick.
“Our bus rides from a game we won against Marshall (Academy), we would all tell really funny stories to each other,” she said. “It was just fun.”
One story in particular stood out.
“When (midfielder) Elizabeth (Carr) got hit in the face with the ball, it made her fall over,” Riddick said.
Riddick is a cheerleader and used to be on the track team.
Johnson played five of the nine innings in the softball all-star game. She was 1-for-2 from the plate with a single to center field and had a couple of balls hit to her in the outfield. Her team did not win the game.
The Fillies went to the softball state tournament for the second consecutive season and she hit above .300. Those were some of her best times.
“We had a lot of memories when we went to state,” Johnson said. “We stayed in a hotel together. We poured ice on each other in the shower and we just messed around with each other. It was fun.”
Johnson’s softball career has also come to an end and she will be attending Ole Miss next year. She is on the basketball and track teams and has enjoyed playing sports in high school.
“It’s taught me a lot and I’ve also made a lot of friends in it,” she said.
