McCool signs with MUW

By BRIAN HAMILTON, Editor

Pickens Academy’s Mackenzie McCool signed with the Mississippi University for Women last Thursday morning in Carrollton. The senior is an integral piece to the Lady Pirates’ effort to bring home the school’s first ever state championship this season.

McCool played her freshman and sophomore seasons for Pickens Academy, before transferring to New Hope in Mississippi for her junior season. The slugger then returned to PA for her senior season and has already hit four home runs.

“I knew that I wanted to go play college ball when I went to the W’s hitting camp,” McCool said. “I met the girls, I loved the environment. It was welcoming and, I don’t know, it was just a great place to be.”

Pickens Academy head coach Wade Goodman said that McCool was a vital piece to the 2019 squad, as the Lady Pirates lost two of their best hitters from a season ago, in Lauren Duckworth and Allison Latham.

“We kind of noticed it early in practice that she was going to be one of our better hitters,” Goodman said. “You need somebody in the middle of your lineup that can drive in some runs and I think she’s got 24 RBIs as well. She’s done a good job this year of driving in runs. The ball really jumps off her bat and she is very strong, very strong. She’s strong enough to hit the gap when her timing is right. We are very fortunate to have her back.”

Goodman lost several important pieces from a state runner-up team and said that McCool deciding to come back to PA was similar to landing a well-seasoned graduate transfer in the college system.

“She has just fit in like a puzzle piece,” Goodman said. “That is what we needed, so we are thankful to have her. She can play multiple positions, but her bat is her biggest asset.”