Addy Higginbotham, a rising senior at North Duplin, was named the NCFCA All-State 1A East Player of the Year in softball. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — She adjusts her ponytail, slides on her visor, grabs her glove and hops over the white, chalk line toward second base.She fields a couple of ground balls to warm up.
Seconds later, she inches forward. Her eyes glued to the batter, she raises her glove and waits for the pitch.
There’s a certain calmness in Addy Higginbotham’s eyes.
She’s in her element on the softball field, a place where she grew up while her mom coached on the collegiate scene. Higginbotham absorbed that passion and knowledge, which has led to success on the North Duplin High School diamond.
Though the rising senior modestly accepts personnel accolades, she doesn’t dwell on the recognition. Yet, opposing peers — not surprisingly — recognize her talent, desire and determination.
Higginbotham was recently named the District 2 Player-of-the-Year and All-State 1A East Player-of-the-Year by the NC Fast-Pitch Coaches Association.
“I thought it was really cool,” Higginbotham said. “For me, I’m just playing a sport I love. The fun part of this year, I enjoyed it all from the practices to the games to the lunches we had [as a team]. I looked forward to playing with everyone.
“There wasn’t one particular part of it that I did not enjoy.”
One of four Rebels acknowledged to the District 2 and All-State 1A teams, Higginbotham helped North Duplin collect its fourth consecutive Carolina 1A regular-season championship.
Higginbotham batted .629, collected 44 hits, scored 37 runs, provided 25 RBI and swatted three home runs. She stole eight bases.
The Rebels logged a 17-2 worksheet that included a second consecutive appearance in the east 1A semifinals. One year earlier, North Duplin emerged as the NC High School Athletic Association state runner-up.
“If you had watched us, you wouldn’t know that only three of us play high-level softball,” Higginbotham said. “I think we all played as a team collectively. This year, when we got to the third round, I wanted to go back to the state championship and win it. Last year, I don’t want to say I was along for the ride, but I knew we were making history.”
North Duplin endured a season-ending loss to highly-talented Pinetown Northside, which claimed the eastern crown and finished state runner-up.
Higginbotham has verbally committed to perennial softballl juggernaut Wingate University, one of the top collegiate programs in North Carolina. She can’t wait to lace up the cleats for her final prep season.
Neither can her mom, head ND coach Jaime Kylis.
“Anyone who understands the game of softball, can see that she has a high IQ and a special special,” Kylis said. “She is super smart on the [basketball] court and on the [softball] field, and that definitely plays into her success.
“I think she is well-composed, doesn’t get too excited and doesn’t get too down. [I’m] excited to see her leadership abilities heading into her senior year and see her take more ownership of the program.
“I’m really blessed to be able to say that she is mine.”
Joining Higginbotham on the District 2 and All-State teams are recent grad Reece Outlaw, rising junior Lilly Fulghum and rising junior Ady Spence.
Outlaw swiped a team-high 11 bases and swung at a .627 clip during 77 plate appearances. She delivered 42 hits, tallied 42 runs, provided 36 RBI and slugged eight home runs.
Spence notched 26 hits, drove in 18 runs and concluded the year with a .388 average. The right-hander threw 23-plus innings and posted a 5-1 record inside the circle.
Fulghum wound up 12-1 on the mound and logged a 2.81 earned-run average in 74.7 innings. The right-hander retired 84 opposing hitters on strikeouts. Offensively, Fulghum had 37 hits, 31 RBI, scored 38 runs and ended the season with a .617 average at the plate.
