Holcomb’s Maleigh Lemings signs with East Central Community College

The success that Holcomb High School senior Maleigh Lemings has seen on the diamond will continue as she commits to play softball for East Central Community College in Decatur, Mississippi. Lemings put pen to paper Thursday and will officially be a Warrior next year.

Throughout her high school career, Lemings played basketball, volleyball, softball, and she is also a cheerleader. When it came to deciding what she wanted to play in college, however, softball was always her top choice.

“It was always softball,” Lemings said. “I always knew I’d want to play softball in college, and I’ve really worked hard over the years to reach that level. I know that a lot of people don’t reach that level, so I wanted to put in the work to make my dreams come true.”

Last spring on the softball team, Lemings was named the Tri-County Conference Player of the Year and earned Class 1 All-State and All-District honors in Class 1 District 1.

As a junior short stop, she set two state records for the most RBIs in a season with a total of 71, as well as the most runs scored in a season with 69. Lemings had on-base percentage of .683 and a batting average of .617. Holcomb concluded the softball season with a 23-9 record that ended in a district championship loss to Risco.

In total, Lemings has been a part of the Holcomb softball program that has made two Final Four appearances in the last three years. Her goal before taking her game to college is to make it three for four.

“I want to go back to state,” she said of her plan this spring. “I want to go back to the Final Four and win it this year.”

Lemings has also played travel softball since before she was 10 years old, and she’s been a member on Southern Elite, XPT Softball, and she is now active on the Blue Angels travel softball team.

Her athleticism was not exclusively on the softball field, though. Lemings earned postseason honors including being named to All-Conference and All-District teams in both basketball and volleyball.

Holcomb High School Athletic Director, volleyball and softball coach Matt Casper said it’s been “a blessing and an honor” coaching Lemings.

“It’s been an absolute pleasure coaching Maleigh since she was a freshman,” Casper said. “She’s one of the most talented athletes and players I’ve had the honor of coaching. I’m thoroughly proud to see her moving on to the next level, to make this decision and commitment. I know she will be successful there.”

Under Casper’s tutelage, many of his players have gone on to become college athletes, and he explained that it is a priority to help any player with those aspirations.

“Any time one of our kids are interested in going to the next level, we want to do whatever we can to make contacts and provide them opportunities,” he said. “Her and her family did a lot on their own, and she had multiple options. She went and visited, narrowed it down, and this is the decision she made.”

East Central Community College competes in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference within the NJCAA.

“I went for a play day and took a tour, and I really liked it,” Lemings said of East Central. “I liked the coaches, the girls and everybody. I’ve always said I wanted to go south. I loved it there.”

Holcomb senior Maleigh Lemings signs to play softball for East Central Community College on Thursday alongside her sister and parents. Photo by Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat