Cookeville Lady Cavaliers softball player Ella Dudney will head into her final high school season with some familiar faces.
Dudney enters her 13th year playing softball and fourth on the Lady Cavaliers varsity team. She started getting to know the sport at age five playing tee-ball. She met a lot of her friends and teammates during that time. Dudney said her friends have meant a lot to her.
“They have picked me up whenever I’m down and I hope that they can say I’ve done the same for them.” Dudney said. “But I think we kind of keep each other grounded a little bit and like keep each other focused so that we’re not worried about just ourselves but the rest of the team.”
Dudney stands as one of four seniors on the Cookeville softball team. Dudney said she wants to see some fight out of the Lady Cavaliers in their upcoming games.
“I just want to make sure that we are playing every inning, every at-bat to our fullest potential.” Dudney said. “And that’s what I hope to see from us is that we’re fully engaged and trying our very hardest and keep our focus throughout the whole game.” Dudney said.
Dudney said the Lady Cavaliers have focused on making sure they stay unified as a team.
“If a team doesn’t get along they won’t play well together but whenever a team has a good foundation and friendship and trust in each other then that’s when a team will go far so I think it’s very important that we all know each other well and get along.” Dudney said.
Dudney said her goals she set for the team were to continue playing as a unit. Dudney set a personal goal for herself this season: to hit above .400. With two weeks to go in the regular season, Dudney’s batting average sits at .481, second on the team.
“I’m glad that I’ve been able to play for a team and for something that’s bigger than myself.” Dudney said.
