Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Drummond, Edwards enjoy success on diamond
Kayson Drummond reaped the benefits after putting in the extra work to improve his production at the plate.
Attention to detail is important to Drummond, a senior who batted .500 at the plate (5-for-10) and reached base 70 percent of the time last week for Elkins, the top team in the Class 3A- 1 Conference.
For his effort, Drummond is the boys Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Player of the game. Alyson Edwards of Mansfield is the girls NWADG Player of the Week.
Elkins needed only one win in a doubleheader against Green Forest Monday to claim the league championship and its players like Drummond who’s placed the Elks on that perch. Drummond had a bases-clearing double during a seven-run uprising in a 12-1 victory over Siloam Springs. He also went 3- for-5 in a doubleheader sweep against Lincoln.
Drummond is an allaround athlete who also excelled in football for Elkins. Not only did Drummond shine at the plate and in the field last week, he showed he could take one for the team when he reached base three times after being hit by a pitch.
“Kayson has been working on his swing and the extra work really paid off this week,” Elkins coach Hunter Corbell said. “He has stayed after practice and looked at video of his swing to make it better. He’s constantly striving to improve upon his game. He embodies the work ethic that our program is built upon here at Elkins.”
Edwards went on a tear last week as a two-way standout for Mansfield (18-3), starting with a 4-for-4 performance in a win over Western Yell County. She moved into the circle the next day and struck out 11 while going 3- for- 4 at the plate in a win over Booneville. Edwards then went 3- for- 3 in a win over Magazine before returning to the circle, where she allowed one hit and struck eight in a blowout win over
Alma. She was 3-for-4 at the plate with a tworun home run against Alma, which raised her average to .610 on the season heading into Monday night’s league game with Lavaca.
“When Alyson is playing you will always get maximum effort regardless of what position she plays, either pitching or first base,” Mansfield coach Don Eveld said. “Her work ethic is phenomenal, whether it be at pitching, fielding or hitting. She works hard and it shows. She’s always looking for ways to get better. She’s a leader for our softball team, not always verbally, but in how she approaches the game.”