Sarah Kirby arrived at school early last August, hitting the weight room long before the first class bell sents students scurrying to their first class. First-year Trinity girls coach Melanie Hall put the Lady Saints on a strict weight program. And it paid off for Kirby not only in basketball, but seven months later in softball.

&uot;I know it helped me in basketball, but when softball started I noticed I was hitting the ball harder than&160;I had ever hit it. And I was throwing it harder. I just felt stronger.&uot;

Kirby would have her strongest season, batting .722 and holding down shortstop for the South A State champions to earn The Natchez Democrat Metro Player of the Year Award.

Trinity finished its season at 17-5, winning the South A State title at Huntington before finishing third in the State A championship.

&uot;I didn’t have high hopes going into the season,&uot; Kirby said. &uot;I didn’t think we would do that good. We lost two key players in Mary Kate McDonald and Jennifer Brinegar, who had been with us since we started five years ago. And then other people who had been with us didn’t play.&uot;

Kirby came out of the gate hitting the ball well, which is not unusual.

&uot;I start out better and then usually toward the end of the season I hit a slump,&uot; she said. &uot;This year it was toward the middle where I had two games where I couldn’t seem to do anything. So I concentrated and practiced really hard and didn’t let myself go down.&uot;

Kirby said winning South State was the highlight, even though losing twice to Huntington at state was disappointing.

&uot;Not winning state still bothers me,&uot; she said.

Kirby will attend Southern Mississippi where she will major in pharmacy.

&uot;I’m going to play intramural ball just to stay competitive,&uot; she said. &uot;There’s going to be enough pressure. And I’m sort of burned out on ball anyway.&uot;

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