by Rusty Ellis
Cookeville High School senior Madison Lancaster made her commitment to Cumberland University official on Monday, as she signed her NLI to play softball for the Phoenix upon graduation.
Lancaster says she’s excited to finally get to work on her senior season after making her decision.
“I’m feeling pretty good, I’m happy with my decision,” Lancaster said. “I visited many colleges, and Cumberland was the only one I felt at peace with and at home with, so I chose them because of that.”
Lancaster’s road to this moment has been different from Cookeville’s previous signees this season, as head coach Jordan Webb remembers throwing her into the circle her freshman season.
For better or worse, she had to learn on the fly.
“It was trial by fire,” Webb said. “Madison came in and we were very thin on pitching, and within a handful of games, I told her she was going out there. I hated to feed her to the wolves that year, but it was how it had to be…she has had a bumpy road. Even last year at times, it was very tough, but what that did, was it made her very tough. She’s a gamer, she’s tough as nails and she’s not going to give in.”
Webb has seen Lancaster grow up and mature in the circle, and he says it’s been a fun process to watch because of her toughness.
“When you’re a position player, you may have a ball hit at you once or twice a game,” Webb said. “For her, she’s touching the ball every play of the game…when she’s not at her best, she’s had to adjust and she’s done that. It hasn’t been easy for her, we’ve had to be pretty tough on her. I’m so proud of her for how hard she works and how she’s stuck with it.”
Lancaster says she’s looking forward to the new challenges college softball will present, and like many before her, she’s going to miss playing with her teammates and friends that she’s spent most of her life with.
“I’ve grown up playing with them,” Lancaster said. “Through T-ball and high school, it’s going to be tough playing with new girls that I’ve never met before…(I’m excited to) meet new people and get to the next level and experience all (it has to offer). I think I will be ready, but not right now. I’ve still got a lot of work to do.”
