Northeast Mississippi Community College head softball coach Jody Long has announced the signing of Pine Grove High School's Lacy Blakney.
Blakney, a catcher, made it official when the Lady Panther signed with the Northeast softball program during a ceremony held at the Tippah County-based school on Thursday, June 27.
"Any day we can get a local kid out of our district, it's been a good day," Long said. "Lacy brings in a world of talent. She has a strong arm and we are looking for her to come into our program, get into the weight room, get stronger and continue to improve."
With the addition of Blakney, Northeast's softball program has signed 10 new faces to the team during the signing period including South Panola's Marla Rudd, New Albany's Morgan Beaty and Shannon Goode, East Webster's Abigail Rish, Alcorn Central's Chelsea Buntin, Corinth's Haley Christian, Booneville's Bre Agnew and Houston's Yasmeen Cooper and Avery Springer.
Blakney led the Lady Panthers to a 16-8 overall record and an 8-2 mark in Division 1-1A while helping Pine Grove reach the second round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association's (MHSAA) Class 1A State Softball Playoffs.
Blakney appeared in 24 games for Brad Pounders' Lady Panthers and pieced together a .434 batting average and a .523 on base percentage to go along with a .704 slugging percentage.
Blakney knocked around 31 hits in 71 at bats during her final varsity campaign for Pine Grove including seven doubles, three triples and a pair of home runs.
During the 2012-13 season, Blakney garnered 12 walks while striking out just five times in 86 plate appearances for the Lady Panthers.
Blakney finished her career with a .926 fielding percentage committing just two miscues all year and none during the final month of the season.
In the 2011-12 season, Blakney led Pine Grove to a 21-7 mark and a 9-1 division record while appearing in all 28 games for the Lady Panthers.
Blakney posted a .430 batting average during her junior season and finished with a .562 on base percentage and a .608 slugging percentage that was aided by seven doubles, two triples and a home run.
Blakney finished the 2011-12 season with 35 runs batted in -- including five four-RBI outings between April 9, 2012 and April 27, 2012.
Behind the plate, Blakney threw out 17 of 25 runners on the season for the Lady Panthers.
In her final three years at Pine Grove, Blakney helped lead the Lady Panthers to a 48-28 overall mark and a 25-5 record in Division 1-1A.
At the plate, Blakney was an offensive threat collecting 94 hits in 220 at bats -- a .427 batting average -- with 19 doubles, eight triples and six home runs while driving in 93 runs.
CUTLINE
Pine Grove High School catcher Lacy Blakney signs with the Northeast Mississippi Community College softball program on Thursday, June 27 at the Tippah County-based school. Joining Blakney at the signing were (front row l-r) her father Tracy Blakney, Lacy Blakney and her mother Stacy Mathis along with (back row l-r) Northeast Mississippi Community College head softball coach Jody Long and former Pine Grove High School softball coach Brad Pounders.