Softball notes: NWC’s Mackenzi Gray proved natural talent

Northwest Christian senior Mackenzi Gray more or less walked directly onto the softball field and became a premier player.

Gray had never played competitively when she turned out for the team as a freshman. The Crusaders gave Gray a look in the outfield before moving her to shortstop, a position she has held since.

“It’s just true natural ability,” said first-year NWC coach Renee Stewart, who assumed the job from her husband, Jamie.

“At the time I didn’t really notice how important (shortstop) was, because you kind of run the infield in a way,” Gray said. “Once I figured that out, I realized I had a lot of learning to do.”

Now Gray is a veteran presence for a team limited to two seniors and two juniors. The Crusaders (15-5, 14-4) have played in four consecutive State 2B tournaments and just finished behind champ Colfax in the Northeast 2B League. The runner-up finish guarantees NWC a spot at regionals.

Gray boosted her leadership role after the graduation of superior pitcher Hannah Hustad, who guided NWC to state title-game appearances in 2012 and 2013.

“We have to play a lot more defense this year, which is good for us,” Gray said. “We had a really good defense last year, also, but we didn’t get to show it very often.”

“She’s really put the team on her shoulders and kind of carried us through and led us through with her veteran ability and knowledge for the game,” Stewart said.

Gray is batting .585 this season with eight home runs and 32 runs batted in. She also has seven doubles, three triples and 16 stolen bases in 17 attempts.

Stewart said Gray hit a homer against Wilbur-Creston that was still rising as it cleared the fence.

“Of all the years coaching that I’ve experienced, I’ve never known anybody who has been able to come into a role like she has with the raw talent that she has,” Stewart said.

The next four weeks figure to be the end of Gray’s competitive softball days. A scholar with a 3.96 grade-point average, Gray wants to fulfill her long-standing dream of being a nurse when she attends Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.

“We plan to send a note to the coach there that she’s on campus and they definitely might want to take a look at her because they have something special there that might be able to help them,” Stewart said.

Positive outcome

Both coaches were pleased after Shadle Park broke a first-place Greater Spokane League tie with a 5-4 win at University last Friday.

“I’m happy with these kids,” Shadle coach Guy Perham said. “These kids have worked hard. They’ve put up with my crap and they’re doing really well.”

“The thing especially with this group of kids is that they do a good job bouncing back and learning from their mistakes,” U-Hi coach Jon Schuh said. “I’m proud of the way they battled.”

Tourneys heat up

The District 8 4A and 3A tournaments begin Tuesday at Whitworth University. The first-day highlight is a 3A winner-to-regional, loser-out game between No. 3 North Central and No. 2 Mt. Spokane at 3 p.m. The fourth and fifth 4A seeds, Lewis and Clark and Gonzaga Prep, will meet at 5 in a loser-out.

The tournaments continue May 13-15. Also in the 4A field will be No. 1 U-Hi, Mead and Central Valley. Top-seeded Shadle will play for the 3A title at 5 p.m. on May 14.

The District 7 2A tournament begins Monday with loser-out games at the second and third seeds, East Valley and Pullman. No. 1 Cheney will host the May 16 title game.

Idaho schools will qualify for state tournaments through Saturday. Coeur d’Alene (23-1) qualified on Tuesday with an 8-1 victory over Lake City.