Follow the Light
Lady Dragon excited for bright year in softball
Allie Thurmon knows there’s light at the end of the tunnel. It could be the light from an approaching train. It could be the sun ringing in a bright, new day.
The Junction City junior hears the train whistle. She smells the train smoke. Yet, she trudges ahead because in her heart, she knows there’s good news ahead.
Thurmon’s athletic season has included golf in the fall and basketball in the winter. She’s moved on to softball, where the Lady Dragons have a 4-7 record after a rough four-loss weekend against bigger schools in the North Little Rock Tournament.
Losses can pile up quickly in high school sports. They haven’t buried Thurmon’s enthusiasm.
“This past weekend, we played at 7:30 Friday night and then we played at 9, 11 and 1 on Saturday,” said Junction City softball coach Jay Burroughs. “She caught all four games behind the plate. That’s pretty tough. And then I ended up pitching her for an inning. She’s one of them you put on the field anywhere you want to.
She’s just an athlete.”
As the team’s catcher, Thurmon has surrendered
three passed balls in 11 games. Offensively, she’s batting .500 with one home run and four doubles.
“She’s one of those that she’s going to give it her best at everything,” said Burroughs. “And, she’s smart on top of it.”
Thurmon has maintained a 3.7 grade point average despite going from sport-to-sport-to-sport.
She said she didn’t pick up a golf club until her sophomore year at Crossett, when her school needed players. Thurmon transferred to Junction City in the middle of her sophomore year. This year, she advanced to the 2A State Golf Tournament.
She went from golf to basketball, where she averaged 9.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the Lady Dragons, who struggled through a 7-17 season.
She admitted, the losses were heavy.
“It’s definitely very frustrating. After every game, I went home with heartache, just about.” she said. “I feel like at the end of the season we were all just used to it. We tried our hardest to think one game at a time and we could beat this team if we
really want it.”
Despite the losses, Junction City was competitive. They won a game in the district tournament, beating Hampton 38-37 on Thurmon's free throw with 1.5 seconds left. She also hit the game-winning free throw in a 43-42 win over West Side Christian. Ironically, she made the big shots despite shooting 44 percent from the line during the season.
“Our free throw shooting was not very good,” she admitted. “I think we would get tired. But I knew when it came down to important shots, I needed to step up and be the leader and show I could help the team as best as I could.”
How does a player who shoots less than 50 percent from the line, make two game-winning shots?
“Usually if I miss the first three or four, I just say I have to do better,” she said. “I have to make some of these points because they're easy shots that I should be disciplined enough to make.”
Thurmon entered the softball season determined to not let losing become a habit. Although she wouldn't say which sport was her favorite, she talked about the differences.
“The environment is different. They're two different sports. I feel very confident going into softball because that's what I've done my whole life. I knew I could actually help the team very well in softball,” she said. “Basketball, most of the games the fans were toward the boys because they were just better. So, you know, we didn't have as much support. And, the teammates are different, the coaches. I have a whole different set of teammates in softball than I did on the basketball team.
“I wouldn't say I think I'm better at softball than I am at basketball. I just feel like I know exactly what's going to happen every time I'm at the plate or in the field.”
Softball began with a bang, a thrilling 7-6 win over 3A state semifinalist Smackover.
“That was a great feeling. We were all so excited,” Thurmon said. “We knew after we beat them for the first time it was going to be a good year. It was a really heartwarming feeling.”
All of the Lady Dragons' losses have come against bigger schools. The current five-game skid includes defending 3A state champion Baptist Prep, Smackover, North Little Rock and Sheridan.
“They were really good teams,” Thurmon said. “We knew coming into the tournament that we would have to step up our game. I think it gave us time to prepare for us going into regionals and, hopefully, going into state this year and it would give us some experience.”
Losing stinks but the aroma isn't so bad once a team gets used to it. Thurmon believes her squad won't become accustomed to losing.
“This year we have three seniors and they're all starting. They really help. Their leadership just carries the team,” she said. “We have the same coaches but last year was their first year and they were learning. We have a few freshmen that came in and really helped this team this year.”
Something that never stinks has been Thurmon's grades. Losing in the classroom, she said, is never an option.
“I've always stayed on top of my grades,” she said. “I knew as an athlete I would have to do more homework than others would and take my books on the bus when traveling. I just stay on top of my grades because I know that's the most important thing.”
Thurmon, who's little sister Jess plays third base, said playing multiple sports probably helps a bit with her academics. She's learned to manage her time, sharpen her focus. Still, her life would be easier if she didn't play so many sports.
“I've thought about it. But, I love all the sports that I do. They keep me going all yeararound,” she said. “I think if I'd stick to one sport I'd be bored in the off-season. I like being very busy with my scheduling.”
So, she plays ball, whatever is in season. Wins are heartwarming. Losses? Heartbreaking. Either way, her attitude remains positive.
“She comes from a sports-oriented family. Her mom and dad both played. She was a movein from Crossett last year. She had an older sister that played over there that had all kinds of accolades,” said Burroughs. “The first day she came in when they moved into our district, we sat down with her. My first question was do you feel any pressure with your older sister being a multi-sport and all of that? She said she felt none. And, she's taken off. It took her a little bit last year to get acclimated to the kids but she's taken off.
“Probably a word to describe her is resilient. She's going to be there. She'll come right out of basketball into softball into golf. She's a better kid than she is an athlete.”
And, as her school year chugs toward the end of the tunnel, Thurmon can see the light.
“I'm really excited,” she said. “I think we have a great team. I think it's going to be one of the best years they've had in awhile just with how everybody gets along on the team this year. We all push each other and want to be there. It's just a great feeling to know we're going to go far. We know that we are.”