Adkins Duet

North Softball Preview: Kristen, Hayley Adkins Team Up For North

The Adkins sisters have spent hours upon hours in a batting cage in their back yard, the older Kristen pitching to younger sister Hayley. Complete with lights, the artificial environment has served the sisters well, though there are some drawbacks.

"[Hayley] stays down on the muddy end. But hey, if you´re young that´s what you get stuck with," Kristen said. "We spend a lot of hours out there practicing."

Hayley, a sophomore, doesn´t mind. In fact, she´s grateful for the time with Kristen, a senior.

"It´s truly an honor getting to work with her because she´s my role model," Hayley said. "She´s helped me a lot."

If things work out as planned, McKinney North softball will see the big payoff. The Lady Bulldogs need the Adkins sisters to step in and be brilliant, particularly Kristen. For the first time in four years North will be without the services of  Becky Nye, who is pitching for the University of Mississippi.

North head coach Debbie Evans said she has faith in Kristen.

"I think she´s just been waiting for the opportunity," Evans said. "She´s ready, and she´ll step in there and do an excellent job for us. Right now, she looks very strong."

Kristen knows that all eyes will be on her early, but she has an ace in the hole. Kristen will have Hayley as her catcher this season.

"It makes me a little more comfortable knowing that she believes in me and knows what I can do," Kristen said. "That helps to push me and it helps my drive."

It is, in fact, the first time the sisters have played together on a team, and it´s something neither takes lightly. Kristen and Hayley spend much of their time away from the field talking softball.

"Ever since I got into high school I´ve looked forward to playing on the same team with her," Hayley said of Kristen. "We talk about every game before going into it - what we´re going to do to every batter that we know. We talk with our parents and we strategize."

For the Lady Bulldogs, the sister-sister battery has its obvious advantages.

"They have their little ´sisterly love´ things that go on," Evans said. "But they´ve also pitched with each other for so many years that you don´t have to have that adjustment time period that you typically have when you have a new pitcher and catcher."

For Hayley, who will see her first real varsity playing time this season, having a seasoned player like Kristen on her side is a huge benefit. Having her sister in that role is something that Hayley is not taking for granted.

"It´s good knowing that she´s always there and helping me through everything," Hayley said.

As close as Kristen and Hayley are, there are hurdles to overcome.

"It´s very interesting, but it presents a challenge," Kristen said. "We are very comfortable with each other so sometimes we tend to lose focus."

The challenges don´t stop on the field. There is also life in the Adkins household to think about.

"At home there´s more pressure with her back there because I am expected to keep her in line," Kristen said with a laugh. "If she has an off night sometimes my parents look to me and say, ´Why didn´t you fix that in the pregame?´"

And as close as Kristen and Hayley are - they both call the other their best friend - they are different people.

"They´re like night and day," Evans said. "Kristen is very reserved and very much a leader through her actions and the things she says. Hayley is very outgoing, very energetic. She adds a little spark to the team."

Kristen doesn´t shy away from acknowledging those differences.

"I´m pretty quiet, very studious, just get the job done. She´s loud, boisterous and all over the place all the time," Kristen said.

"Getting to play with her this year, I´m really looking forward to it. It´s one of those things that when we´re both old ladies we´re going to be able to look back on and laugh at the good times and the bad times."

The Lady Bulldogs are hoping there will be plenty of good times for the Adkins sisters to laugh about.

MCKINNEY NORTH SOFTBALL ROSTER
#1 - Hannah Moseley - Sr. OF
  3 - Lindsey Post - Jr. 2B
  4 - Amanda Parsonage - Jr. RF
  5 - Liz Dankers - Sr. OF
  6 - Amy Kilpatrick - Soph. C/IF
  7 - Kristen Adkins - Sr. P/IF
  8 - Ashleigh McLean - Jr. P/IF
  9 - Jessica Hyles - Jr. IF
10 - Kathy Shelton - Soph. IF/OF
11 - Hayley Adkins - Soph. C
12 - Kelsey Schendt - Sr. CF
15 - Meghan Knowles - Soph. 1B
21 - Katy Garvey - Sr. IF