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For the second consecutive year, Keith High School softball coach Towanna Flennory earned the honor of The Selma Times-Journal Coach of the Year.

Flennory was among two coaches in consideration for the honor. Dallas County High School softball coach Venecia Eaton’s squad went undefeated against opponents from Dallas County, but Flennory’s bunch captured the Class  1A, Area 5 title and was the only softball squad in the county to reach regionals.

“We take pride in winning all our games, but we take even more pride in postseason, meaning that it’s OK to beat Selma High, Southside or Dallas County, but our focus is our area and the playoffs. We prepare primarily for the playoffs, and sometimes, in preparing for the playoffs, we lose some of those rivalry games because we’re working on something or we’re trying to get someone else ready. That’s primarily our focus is the playoffs.”

She added she was proud to be named coach of the year again.

“It’s a great honor,” Flennory said. “We work hard. My girls work hard. I couldn’t do it without my girls. We’re a young team. We’re still building, we’re still learning and we’re still getting better. We’re working in the offseason to advance farther than region play so we can be contenders for a championship. It’s just an honor. I appreciate it, and I don’t take it for granted.”

Flennory said her team finished 14-6 on the season. Keith went undefeated in area play, but lost a pair of matchups against Billingsley and Verbena in the  1A Central Regional Tournament in Montgomery.

She attributed the two losses to untimely errors, youth and the weather.

“Once those mental errors set in, it’s like a domino effect,” Flennory said. “I felt like our pitching was great, but it was just mental errors. In our outfield, we missed some catchable balls. In our infield, we missed some easy plays. And then, on top of that, I think it was the heat. Condition-wise, we’re not accustomed to playing at 10 in the morning, and the heat is serious.”

Flennory said she’s optimistic about the 2023 season.

“I think this year is going to be our year for us to flourish because now everybody knows what to expect,” she said. “Now, it’s just for us to build and compete. I think that’s the thing we’ll be ready for this year.”