NATCHEZ — Cathedral High School’s Mckenzie Milligan went into the softball season thinking it would be a building and learning process for the young team.

But it turned out to be much more productive for the Lady Green Wave.

With just two juniors on the team, including Milligan, and a handful of eighth graders and freshmen, Milligan knew things would be different.

“We knew we were really young, we lost like five starters, so a lot of people had to step up,” Milligan said. “We knew it was going to be tough.”

Milligan, a shortstop, helped lead the Lady Wave to the South State playoffs with a .420 batting average, 20 stolen bases out of 22 attempts and an .880 fielding percentage to be named All-Metro player of the year.

Milligan also led them as a team captain as well. That task, was the hardest part of the year, Milligan said.

“I’m used to always being the youngest on the team,” Milligan said. “I just don’t like to tell people what to do. Everybody on the team is pretty much my best friend, so I didn’t want to seem mean and have them mad at me.”

But once Cathedral went on a three-game losing streak against Franklin County, Warren Central and Bogue Chitto high schools 11-2, 17-7 and 4-2, respectively, Milligan knew the season couldn’t just be about fun.

“Everybody came together and started to work together to win games because losing wasn’t fun,” Milligan said. “(Coach Gary Blackwell) talked to me and said we had to step up because the kids are looking up to us waiting for us to say something to them about playing better.”

Blackwell said he instilled confidence in Milligan because of the type of player and person she is.

“She is an all-around talented player and she’s not just good at one thing, she knows the game,” Blackwell said. “The whole works is what makes her an outstanding player.”

The Lady Wave worked hard, and saw themselves get to the South State playoffs. The further they got, the more it seemed Milligan was getting her jersey dirty.

“If I’m on first base, I know coach is going to make me steal,” Milligan said. “I’m just waiting on the signal. I still get nervous every time.”

Blackwell said he signals Milligan to steal bases because he is confident in her abilities.

“It’s her knowledge of the game and knowing how to steal and when to steal,” Blackwell said. “I have to make that call, but I make that call because I know she can do it and we have to get that extra base so we can get closer to scoring that run. Once we get her on base, I feel very confident to get her all the way to third to get her in position to score.”

Though the Green Wave couldn’t find a way to defeat Stringer High School in Game 3 in the South State playoffs, Milligan said she was proud of the season they had.

“I felt really good at the end of the season, because we became really good friends and played like we’re supposed to,” she said.

Milligan said she won’t compete in a summer softball league this year, but she won’t put down her bat just yet.

Milligan is preparing for the MAC all-star fast pitch softball game at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville June 8.