LONDON — When it comes to the South Laurel seniors of Kiley Dunaway, Bailey Frazier, Audrey Likins, Aubrie Messer, and Taya Smith, South Laurel coach Carly Mink said it best — “Leadership is everything when it comes to success of a team, and this senior group has been some of the best.”
The Lady Cardinals matched the program’s most wins in a season at 36, and can break the record with a win over Highlands Thursday while also entering the state tournament with a No. 5 ranking in the state, and a lot of the team’s success can be attributed to the senior’s leadership.
“With this group, they lead by example and had to say very few words,” Mink said. “All five of them never took a day off, played and practice at 100 percent, and that paved the way for our team’s success.”
Mink said her seniors’ experience has played a huge role in the team’s success as well.
“Experience from our five seniors in how to handle adversity, how to approach the game, and practice really created a sense of calmness around our team,” she said. “We as coaches have high expectations, but our seniors set the standard for matching those expectations, and expecting from all others.
“Each senior has their own individual traits that they bring to the team,” Mink added. “Bailey has played at the varsity level for six years now. She plays the game at the highest level at all times and has always been a teammate to lean on.
“Audrey has also been part of our team for 6 years,” she continued. “She has played multiple positions throughout her career and has always done it to the best of her ability, proving to be a great example. She’s a great leader in the dugout also, and Taya has been one of greatest success stories to come through the program. She had never picked up a softball until her freshman year, and over the course of four years just continued to work hard everyday and has improved so much. Everyday she’s there early putting in extra work, setting up for batting practice, and has been a fantastic teammate.”
Mink said the addition of Aubrie Messer has been huge for the team.
“Aubrie transferred in as senior and immediately brought tons of experience with her,” she said. “More important than her skill set, is her high-character and how quickly she gelled with the team. Aubrie helped solidify our pitching rotation, while being a huge presence in the middle of the lineup.
“Kiley was part of the South Laurel program before transferring in middle school, and as a senior transferred back to graduate and to be a Cardinal her senior year,” Mink continued. “Kiley also brought tons of experience and talent, and was so important with her versatility. Offensively, Kiley has been a huge part of our lineup and what we’ve been able to accomplish. Kiley’s knowledge of the game has truly helped us.
“This senior group has been such a blessing for our staff to be able to coach,” she said. “They truly have made this program, our team better, and their legacy as a Cardinal will long be remembered. They have a few more goals left to obtain and we can’t wait to watch them get after it, 100 percent.”
