NATCHEZ — When pitcher Mary Sanders transferred to Adams County Christian School her sophomore year, she didn’t know how well she’d fit in.

But when Lady Rebels softball coach Forrest Foster offered her the No. 12 jersey, it was certainly a good sign.

“I started out with No. 21 in tee ball, because I loved Sammy Sosa,” Sanders said.

“When I started playing middle school softball, I went up to No. 22, but when I got to high school someone had it.”

With that number taken, she opted to have a jersey that someone in her family had already worn with pride.

“I looked up to my cousin, Brittney Holzhauer, and she wore No. 12, so that’s why I picked it,” Sanders said.

Sanders was immediately plugged into the Lady Rebels’ starting rotation. For the next three seasons, she would have the starting pitcher position locked down.

“We had some girls that were going to be pitchers, but they were young, and she stepped right in immediately and solidified the pitching spot for us,” Foster said.

Having several good leaders playing up the middle for her helped tremendously when it came to adjusting to ACCS, Sanders said.

“Our shortstop, Sarah Beth Fuller, and our center fielder, Chelsea Freeman, were both seniors, and they were great leaders,” Sanders said.

“When we started doing drills, they took me under their wing and helped me develop (as a player).”

And with her senior season now over, Sanders said she hopes she and fellow seniors Kaitlan Melton and Shelby Guice could have had the same kind of impact on the younger Lady Rebels.

“I know the seniors during my 10th grade year left a good impression and showed good leadership. I felt like all three of us stepped up, because we knew it was about everyone,” Sanders said.

But Sanders admitted it wasn’t always easy not getting frustrated with her teammates at times.

“We should’ve been in the playoffs. We had a lot of little errors add up for us,” she said.

“I’m the slowest person on the team, and if I think I can get to the ball, the others should be able to. We practiced with great defense, but sometimes it didn’t show up in games for us.”

Foster also said the little things played a major role in the Lady Rebels not being able to play in the postseason.

“There were a couple of times we lost ball games in the bottom of the ninth by one run on mistakes or fluke hits,” Foster said.

“Little things like that happen, and we just couldn’t seem to get a break sometimes. We’ve been in position to win a lot of ball games.”

When those mistakes would allow baserunners to score, Foster said Sanders would get visibly frustrated. But that got better as she got older, Foster said.

“Prior to this year, she would get a little frustrated. This year, she really matured and understands that it’s not only her teammates that make mistakes, but she makes them on the mound too,” he said.

“She may call a pitch low and away, then miss the spot and throw it right down the middle. It’s kind of a give and take thing. You have to have a really good defense behind you, but when they make mistakes, you have to blow it off and take over the ball game, and she did that very well.”

And even though she was affected by the mistakes of others, Foster said she exemplified good leadership despite those mistakes.

“She might get down, but she would in turn use senior leadership to console the girls that may have made the mistake,” Foster said.

“She may have been down on the inside, but she wouldn’t show it. The previous two years, she would.”

Staying positive with her teammates was something she made a concerted effort to do this season, Sanders said.

“I would just say that everything was OK and try to keep their heads up,” Sanders said.

Sanders also batted No. 3 in the Lady Rebels’ lineup, and Foster said she was excellent in the batter’s box.

“She hit the first home run that had ever been hit in fastpitch softball at ACCS,” Foster said.

“The No. 3 hitter is normally the hitter that makes it all happen. She came through for us several times this year.”

Sanders’ accomplishments aren’t limited to the softball field. She’s an excellent student, Foster said, and she was elected senior class president and homecoming queen. She was also a part of the ACCS cheerleading squad.

Balancing her studies, cheerleading and softball was a challenge with only 24 hours in the day, Sanders said. Even after some late nights studying, though, Sanders said she wouldn’t dare fall asleep in class.

“I’m scared to, because we do stuff to people that fall asleep in class. Like, we’d slam a book on their desk or something,” Sanders joked.

Sanders is hoping to get a scholarship to play softball in college. She currently spends her free time with Foster honing her pitching skills. Foster is dedicated to his players, Sanders said.

“He’s just a loving, giving person. I didn’t want our season to end, because he’s not my coach anymore. Now I have to find someone else,” Sanders said.

She also credited Ferriday Little League coach Rut Horne with helping her develop as a pitcher.

“He’s been helping me since ninth and 10th grade. I’d go to him every Sunday, and he’d come to my games. He’s a big supporter, and he played a big part of my whole pitching thing,” Sanders said.

With Sanders leaving, whoever takes over for the Lady Rebels will have some big shoes to fill.

“We’re going to miss her — and not only her, her parents. They contribute so much. Every time we had a work day, her parents were there,” Foster said.

“I’m an emotional person, but she’s grown to be more than a ball player. She’s turned into a really good friend.”