McAtee breaks two Missouri softball records

KENNETT, Mo. - Junior softball player Handley McAtee broke two batting records for Missouri softball this season.

McAtee broke the state record for most hits in a single season. She recorded 78 hits this season, which broke the old record of 76.  McAtee also secured the record for most doubles in a season with 27. The old record of 25 was set by Marshfield’s Latasha Badeerdeen in 2008.

Head softball coach Logan Dollins said McAtee had the best season in Kennett history.

“When you have 78 hits in a single season, she not only had the most hits in Kennett’s history, but in Missouri’s history,” Dollins said. “That’s an outstanding season. She was a huge leader for our team and someone everyone can rally around. There may not be a single player I have coached with a better work ethic.”

According to Dollins, McAtee has been a hitting machine since her freshman season. 

She started her first year on the team, hitting in the .500 percentage. Now, Dollins the only thing she can do now is keep maturing.

“The game moves slow for her because she prepares herself so well throughout the year and she never looks flustered or out of control,” Dollins said. “She always has a great mindset, she’s a great teammate and she is really good at controlling adversity.”

Dollins said her progression this season had been due to her mentality and simply getting stronger.

Along with her record breaking season at bat, McAtee showed a great season pitching as well. Dollins said she was really good at not letting a bad hitting day affect her game in the circle, nor did she let a bad pitching day affect her mind at the plate.

With her efforts this season, McAtee was able to lead the Indians to a runner-up finish at the Missouri Class 2 State championships. She batted .600 during the Final Four match-up at the state tournament.

Now, she is heading into her senior year at Kennett High School and is looking to keep the momentum going.

“The biggest thing for her now is to just continue to play the game hard and joyful,” Dollins said. “That is something she does a really good job of. For her senior season, that is something I am really excited for, to see her have the opportunity to come and play loose and play free. If she does that, I have no worries.

McAtee was selected as a finalist for the SEMOball all softball player of the year as well as a finalist for player of the year in tennis.