Last season while playing at Enterprise, the Newton County Lady Cougars softball team had an injury at third base and long-time coach Justin Chaney had to decide who to put at the hot corner.
He stuck junior outfielder Lanie Phillips there and never regretted it. It’s that kind of versatility that led to Phillips signing with Holmes Community College last week in a ceremony at the school.
Phillips signed with Holmes and coach Trae Embry after considering offers from East Central and Gulf Coast.
“I thought Holmes was the best option for me,” Phillips said. “I know the coach well because he was at Neshoba and I thought I would enjoy playing for him. Coach Embry told me he thought I was an outfielder, but this year Coach Chaney had me at second and third base and that’s what made him realize I could play at the next level was being a utility player. I’m so blessed to be able to continue my softball career. I’ve always wanted to, and I think it’s amazing to get the opportunity. I’ve always wanted to be able to play college softball and I have worked really hard to get to where I’m at. I wouldn’t be here without my coaches, my team and my parents.”
Phillips has started in fast pitch for the Lady Cougars for the last three seasons and was a starter on the slow-pitch team as a seventh grader, helping the team to a state championship that season.
For Chaney, it’s like seeing one of his own children sign a scholarship.
“I consider her a daughter so it’s exciting to me when you get to see them go on to the next level,” Chaney said. “Holmes is getting a good one so I’m extremely proud of her. She has earned everything that she is going to get. I look forward to it. It’s out of the way now and she can just go play soccer and softball now. I’m extremely proud of her.”
When introducing Philips to the crowd assembled for the signing, Chaney talked about Phillips’ leadership on and off the field.
“You know who is in charge in the locker room,” Chaney said. “You don’t have to do a lot of coaching in there. You can go talk to her and things will get taken care of in there. I think back to when she was a little scrawny seventh grader and now, she’s a young lady. She has taken that leadership role and ran with it.”
Chaney said Phillips is the leader in the locker room, mainly because of the example set for her by the players that have come before her.
“Each and every year, her watching the other girls before her,” Chaney said. “There’s been a precedent set there. She just kind of knew it was her time. You could kind of see it building throughout the summer. We preach every day what it means to be a Lady Cougar and I think she has taken that it’s her time. I’m proud that she is going to be one of our leaders this year.”
On the field, Phillips has a .312 career batting average. She won the team’s Golden Glove Award in the outfield as well as the Lady Cougar award and the team’s base running award. While she’s been an outfield for most of her career, Phillips has been able to transition to the infield when needed.
“I used to think she was just an outfielder, but I call her a utility player now,” Chaney said. “We had some get hurt last spring at enterprise and I stuck her at third base and next thing you know, she’s making plays. That’s what you want, and I think that’s the ultimate compliment of a great player. If you can go to any position on the field and play it. I think that goes back to her character and awareness. To me, I think she is the ultimate competitor.”
