A keen work ethic

This is Kolby Keener’s school year — athletically speaking — at Murray County High School: It’s softball in August, but before that season is barely cold in the books, it’s time for basketball. After the hardwood season concludes, it’s off to travel softball, which ends for her in late May.

Then, it’s time for a summer break.

Oh, wait. There’s no time for relaxation.

There are three basketball camps in June. Scrimmages against Rome and Dalton in Rome. Open gym sessions on Tuesday and Thursday for the Lady Indians. And, as is Keener’s custom, she usually works on the side during the open gym workouts for the boys team on Monday and Wednesday.

She also finds time for softball workouts and a four-day camp on campus.

“We stay busy,” said Keener, who’s approaching her senior year. “I’m in the gym at least four times a week. I may skip one of those days because I might have softball practice.”

With a majority of student-athletes participating in multiple sports these days, there’s little time for anything else when you toss in the time needed to maintain grades. Families must wisely pick and choose their time to get in a vacation.

“We’re going to Panama City this week,” Keener said.

As soon as her family returns to Chatsworth, Keener will jump right into softball. Coach Sandra Johnston will have tryouts from 6 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 2-3 and then practice for the 2010 season will hit high gear.

“I’ve been playing softball and basketball since I was 5 years old,” said the 5-foot-3-inch Keener, a second baseman and point guard. “I like them both a lot and, honestly, I like working at both sports.”

That’s the operative word — work — because the job seemingly never ends.

Michael Hill, the new Lady Indians basketball coach and the football team’s offensive coordinator, took a few minutes away from practice for the latter sport for a phone interview in which he complimented Keener’s devotion.

“For me, Kolby attended every practice, every camp — we went to North Georgia, Berry and Shorter — and played in every game,” Hill said. “She’s got a great work ethic and she’s starting to step up as a leader.

“And we went to Rome and scrimmaged Rome and Dalton and she was there, too.”

Johnston said Keener helped with the Lady Indians softball camp for kids and participated in a four-day camp for the varsity team conducted by Walters State Community College coach Larry Sauce-man, with a big assist from Indians baseball coach Jeff Lanning.

Johnston said Keener seems to have benefited greatly from the hitting instruction Sauceman provided.

“Last year she was a better defensive player than hitter,” Johnston said. “Her hitting is coming around. Since camp, she’s been nailing the ball. That’s made her more excited and given her more confidence. And she also was helped by playing travel ball.”

Keener said the most obvious benefits from the basketball camps were the time teammates had for team bonding and learning who should play which positions.

The team bonding thing, Keener said, is vitally important for the Lady Indians to have any chance at success this season.

“We had seven or eight seniors last year and we couldn’t play a game without fighting in the locker room before a game, at halftime or after a game,” she said. “We always had arguments at camps. But this is the best we’ve bonded. The Dalton coaches told us after the games they had never seen us play together that well.

“There’s no drama. We just get along. This is a good group. We want to be out there and we want to play. We want to beat some of the teams that killed us last year.”

Keener is expected to start, and her leadership will be a big part of her contribution to the team. She moves into that role after Tember Marchant, the Lady Indians’ leading scorer last season, graduated and signed with Darton College in Albany.

“I’ve played that position since recreation ball,” Keener said. “I would switch in and out some with Tember last season when she took a break. I’ve played the two-guard some, too, but I’m suited for point guard.

“Scoring is not my main focus. The point guard should control the floor, run the offense and make something happen. There are some plays for me to shoot, but I’d rather see the floor and get an assist.”

Keener, an “A” and “B” student, hasn’t decided if she’ll pursue athletics in college. At this point, she’d rather prepare to focus on academics and seek a degree in early childhood education.

“If I played a sport in college, it would probably be softball,” she said. “I’m not a 6-foot basketball player.”

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