Don’t LaCount McKenzie out when it comes to playing softball

McKenzie LaCount has had her share of adversity during her softball career. In fact, at age 7, she was told her sports days were over. LaCount did not take that advice to heart. Instead, she and her parents kept searching for an answer to her vision problem until one was found.

Three surgeries later, and winding up her high school and travel ball career, LaCount looks back on her journey and considers herself to be very lucky to not only have played all these years but also ready to take her talents to another level.

“When I was seven I was told I would never be able to play sports again. It was a really long journey in finding a way that I could. And so, from therapy to different doctors, we found out surgery was an option for me, and so three surgeries later I’m playing ball and going to the next level,” said LaCount.

The pitcher had three surgeries over a 10-year span and even participated in a travel-ball tournament the weekend after a surgery, despite the fact she could not see the catcher’s signs or even the glove.

“I never stopped playing ball. When it came to the surgeries, I just thought of the surgery as an opportunity to make me better but I never stopped playing ball,” said LaCount.

Franklin County High School Head Coach Jason Oliver had followed LaCount from rec ball to her freshman year in high school. The coach felt like LaCount needed to make some changes if she was to see her full potential as a fastpitch pitcher.

“That experience with Coach Oliver has been something that has changed my softball career. He has pushed me since my freshman year. He has been open an honest, and the honesty has pushed me to become such a good athlete,” said LaCount.

LaCount still has a little softball left in high school but will then take her talents to Andrew College in Cuthbert where she will join other members of her travel-ball team.

This is just part of an interview with McKenzie LaCount. To hear the interview in its entirety, tune in to WLHR at noon on Sunday for this week’s Community Forum.