Softball standout eyeing the future

El Dorado senior Abigail Thompson started softball a little later than most girls. Apparently, she was a fast learner as she walked off the field as an All-State performer.

Thompson, who started and played 19 games in leftfield for the Lady Wildcats, batted .443 with a homer and 14 RBI. She led the team with 27 hits and six doubles and tied for the team lead with three triples.

“She was one of our top hitters this season,” said Coach Chris Ezell. “She was also 7-of-7 on stolen base attempts and has shown tremendous range running down several fly balls and line drives in the gap.”

Thompson, also a standout swimmer for the Lady Cats, excelled in the classroom as well, graduating with a 3.72 grade point average. Her future plans include studying Life Science at the University of Central Arkansas and then applying to the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis.

Thompson claimed she always enjoyed the experience of getting her eyes checked.

“I’m one of those weird people that likes getting their eyes checked,” she said. “I like reading the charts and telling them which one is blurry, and which one is clear. I think that would be really cool to play with all those machines and help people see better.

“I also like that it’s a job that provides opportunities for me to start my own business one day.”

Like a lot of students, she had to work around the COVID-19 restrictions to maintain her grades.

“Towards the beginning of the pandemic it was a challenge for everyone,” she said. “The transition to all online classes was tedious at first. I had to learn how to teach myself a lot of the work given, and I had to learn how to manage my time to get my work done. It got better with time, and I managed to get all A’s and B’s in my AP classes.”

Thompson said she started playing softball almost by accident.

“My two best friends were going to try out for the JV team going into ninth grade year. I played a little softball, but I wasn’t very good. But I wanted to play with them. I tried it and ended up making it with them,” she said. “They ended up quitting and playing soccer. I decided it was fun. I didn’t want to quit so I stayed with it and continued to learn. It ended up being one of my best decisions.”

Ezell said Thompson showed rapid improvement since her freshman season. Her development, he said, was evident both on and off the field.

“Abby was our team's biggest personality. She kept us entertained with Elmo voice impressions and various facial expressions. There was never a dull moment when she was around,” Ezell said. “I enjoyed watching her progress over her softball career at EHS. Last year's COVID stoppage shortened her first season as a starter, but you could see a different player than the previous two seasons. Her confidence as a softball player began to show with each game. She was still hard on herself for any mistakes she made, but that determination produced a lot of positives for the team.”

For Thompson, work paid off. She enjoyed a successful senior year in athletics while maintaining her position academically. She admitted, it wasn’t easy.

“I have so much respect for multi-sport athletes that can still manage their grades. It’s tough and there was moments where I didn’t think it was worth playing a sport,” she said. “Especially when you have one sport practice before school and another one right after school like I did. I’m thankful I had parents to push me to do my work and teachers that were generous enough to work around my schedule. Because of this I was able to do what I love and still be able to go to college and pursue to be someone I’ve always dreamed of being.”

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