MISS NSAMiss NSA winners from the 2011 A Division Eastern World Series10-under: Maycy Owens, The Bomb Squad, Rome, Ga.12-under: Baylee Brantley, Georgia Mustangs '98, Stockbridge, Ga.14-under: Morgan Holmes, St. Peters Royals, St. Peters, Mo.16-under: Alexis Brown, Central Virginia High Voltage, Forest, Va.18-under: Adrian Paskey, Susquehanna Slam, Harrisburg, Pa.
Maycy Owens may not get a lot of assists playing first base on her softball team, so she more than makes up for that away from the ballfield.
Owens is a member of the 10-under Bomb Squad based in Rome, Ga. The team is in Chattanooga this week competing in the National Softball Association's A Division Eastern World Series.
Owens, who is about to be a fifth-grader at Pepperell Elementary School, spends much of her free time assisting in her community when she isn't playing or practicing softball or studying. She started by getting involved with student council with the hope of making a difference in her school.
"I just thought it would be fun helping out," Owens said. "It makes me feel good."
At Monday's opening ceremonies at Camp Jordan, NSA officials presented their Miss NSA awards in the five age groups ranging from 10-under to 18-under. Owens said she was shocked to hear her name announced as her age group's winner.
Teams submit nominees for Miss NSA before the tournament. Entrants are judged based on their merits athletically and academically, as well as with their involvement in their communities, and are chosen by an NSA selection committee.
Owens is a straight-A student. Among her athletic accolades, she's most proud of earning a Presidential Physical Fitness Award. Her charitable offerings took an upsurge three years ago when her grandmother, Cyndy Ferguson, was diagnosed with breast cancer.
"I can't remember how old I was when I found out, but I know I was sad," Owens said. "She had breast cancer and could die."
In 2007, Ferguson, who's doing well enough she's in attendance this week, and some of her friends created a breast-cancer fundraiser called "The Pink Ride." It's a horseback trail ride, similar to a walk-a-thon, where entrants solicit sponsors and collect money based on distance traveled.
"I know The Pink Ride is a really big deal," Bomb Squad coach Chad Carney said. "It raises a lot of money. It's an annual event. You see hundreds of participants come in for it. It virtually shuts down the community."
Owens has done everything involved with the event from selling merchandise to preparing food to public-address announcing. That willingness to be a supporter also carries over to her softball team.
"She's a great teammate," Carney said. "She's good about picking up somebody when they get down. Trust me, 10-year-old girls can get down."
Owens has long-term aspirations of working in the medical field. In the meantime she works with her father, Bubba, toward the goal of playing college softball.
"She has the dedication it takes to excel at the next level," Carney said. "She's one of those kids who's not exactly blessed with a lot of God-given athletic ability, but one that spends more time at a ballfield with her dad. She can be a real good player because of her hard work-ethic."