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Versatile Lady
Wampus Cat set to lead
BY DONNA LAMPKIN STEPHENS | CONTRIBUTING WRITER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY STACI VANDAGRIFF | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
After three years at catcher, Conway’s Addie Jordan will move to shortstop this spring for one simple reason.
“Because I need her there,” Conway coach Chata Hickey said. “Her position is anything I need her to play. She can do
everything but pitch.”
Jordan earned all-conference honors
as a sophomore and all-conference and
all-state accolades as a junior. Her career stats heading into her senior season in- clude a .356 batting average, 36 runs scored, 92 RBIs (including a team-high 55 in 2019), 31 doubles (including the Lady Cats’ best 16 last season), 1 triple and 10 home runs, including 6 last year. She has stolen 7 bases, has an on-base percentage of .501 and has
struck out only 10 times in three years.
The Lady Cats finished 19-8 overall last year, including 10-4 in the 6A Central. The league’s third seed to the Class 6A State Tournament, they beat Fayetteville in the opening round, 10-1, before falling
to Bentonville in the quarterfinals, 2-1.
Heading into her senior season in 2020, Jordan,
who has signed to play for Henderson State Univer- sity in Arkadelphia next year, is the River Valley & Ozark Edition Player to Watch.
“I’m definitely a little nervous but very honored at the same time,” she said of the recognition. “It makes me want to do better than last year, break the goals I had last year. I want to one-up my game.”
Jordan grew up in Conway, the daughter of Kevin and Jennifer Jordan and the older sister of Kenley, a freshman Lady Cat volleyball player.
Addie Jordan started playing softball at about age 5, and her dad has coached her in travel ball ever since.
“I did play other sports — volleyball, basketball and track,” she said, “but softball is my most natural sport. I loved it, especially after talking to my dad. We have so many connections.”
Kevin Jordan played baseball at Monticello and has enjoyed sharing the diamond with his older daughter.
Addie Jordan’s natural position is catcher, al- though she plays third base for her travel team, Tulsa Elite.
“But I can play anywhere in the infield,” she said.
She said she knew last year that she’d likely be making the move to shortstop for her senior season after the graduation of Emily Cecil.
“We had a girl behind us who could catch, and when Coach Hickey put me behind Emily, I knew I was probably going [to shortstop],” Jordan said. “I’m not one of the fastest people, quicknesswise. In the offseason, I had to work harder, so I got more mobility and more range. You have to have a lot of range to play shortstop.”
Hickey said Jordan could also play in the outfield if needed.
“She’s got an excellent eye for the game,” the coach said. “When she’s catching, she’s such an asset. She runs the game well and manages the game well.”
Jordan credited her good hand-eye coordination and competitiveness for her success.
“I love having that team sport,” she said. “I love all the girls around me. I’m not just doing it by my- self, but with my teammates.”
And she thinks 2020 could be a special season
JORDAN continued on 46SS