NATCHEZ — Fresh off the heels of a track and field state championship in the discus throw, Adams County Christian School’s Ashleigh Williams has once again caught the state’s attention.

Williams, who transferred from Trinity Episcopal to ACCS over the summer, was recently named to the MAIS Fabulous 15 for softball, along with teammate Tori Laird. She was one of three players on the Lady Rebels’ squad nominated by head coach Forest Foster as “players to watch,” the third being Abby Givens.

After finding out last night that she made the Fabulous 15, Williams said she was excited to be receiving the attention.

“It’s an honor to know I was one of the top girls to watch in Mississippi,” the freshman pitcher and first baseman said. “It’s really exciting.”

As nice as the individual accolades are, though, Williams said she’s even more excited about this year’s Lady Rebels squad.

“We’re looking really good in practice,” Williams said. “I think we could make it all the way to state. I’m eager to see how far we could go. I wouldn’t mind winning state.”

Williams said the team has a solid infield and a pretty good outfield, and the players have jelled since practice started.

“It’s no one girl; it’s a team thing. We have a solid core,” Williams said.

Williams, who has been playing softball since she was 6, said she starting pitching around age 9.

“It’s very hard,” Williams said. “You have to keep your head in the game and know everything that’s going on. If the umpire calls a ball and you think the pitch was a strike, you can’t let it get in your head. You have to think about the next pitch.”

Despite the difficulties, Williams said pitching is something she enjoys very much.

“I love pitching,” she said. “You can control the game with one pitch. It’s an adrenaline rush.”

Williams attended ACCS through her sixth grade year, but transferred to Trinity for grades seven and eight. After winning the state championship in discus throwing for Trinity, she decided to transfer back to ACCS.

“I just missed it. (ACCS) felt more at home,” Williams said.

As much as she enjoyed winning state in a field event, Williams admitted that getting nominated for the Fabulous 15 was more exciting for her personally.

“Winning state was fun, but I just love softball more,” Williams said. “It’s my passion.”

In addition to those two sports, Williams is also a post player in basketball. Balancing those three sports is tough, she said, but she also said she has the right mindset for it.

“You just have to make time,” Williams said. “It’s hard, but it’ll all work out. Everything sort of meshes together. You have workouts in the morning and practice in the afternoon. You have to want to do it. If you don’t want to, it’s not going to help.”