Throughout East Hamilton’s time at the Class 4A softball state tournament at this year’s TSSAA Spring Fling, Alana Johnson overflowed with team spirit and was a rally starter for the Lady Hurricanes.
The senior standout made her presence felt this week in Murfreesboro, where over four games she collected seven hits (including a double and a triple) and two walks, stole two bases and scored eight runs.
While a special run fell one round short of East Hamilton’s first appearance in a softball state final, Johnson made the month of May one to remember, along with fellow senior Bailey Poschke, who had two hits in all four of her team’s Spring Fling games after hitting a walk-off bomb to send the Lady Canes there in the first place.
“East Hamilton means a lot to me,” said the switch-hitting Johnson, who went 17-for-34 in May. “I did band for the past four years, too, and I was the drum major this year. But softball is what I want to do in college and is my passion. I have loved playing for Coach (Norma) Nelson since sixth grade. I have put my whole heart and spirit into the game.
“Softball brings people together and gets the crowd going. I love it and have made so many great memories with this team.”