By By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
Meredith Knox has played softball nearly her entire life.
For the most part, she loved every minute of it. But the former Washington High School star, who recently wrapped up an impressive softball career with the Anderson Trojans, is ready to move on to the next chapter in her life.
“I’m kind of excited about it,” Knox said. “It’s been so busy all the time. I’m constantly doing school and softball.
“I’m looking forward to having a 9-5 job and then being done in the afternoon. I might pick up golf or something. It was fun, but I’m looking forward to what’s next.”
Knox, who was voted the Washington Daily News’ Female Athlete of the Year after her junior and senior seasons, was a solid infielder and spectacular hitter for the Trojans.
She finished her career hitting better than .380 with 40 homers, 106 RBIs and over 200 hits. That included 51 doubles over four seasons. Knox also scored close to 150 runs.
The outgoing, affable Knox went out in style, being named to the all-conference and all-tournament teams.
“I was really thankful for that,” Knox said. “You would hate to go out in your last big tournament and not do very well. I was very excited to have that opportunity to finish well.
“I had a walk-off home run and I had never done that before. It was exciting. It was a good exclamation point to my career.”
As a senior, where she earned First Team conference honors, Knox hit a team-best .418 with 11 home runs (eighth in the conference) and 40 RBIs.
She had 13 doubles (third in the league) and two triples among her 56 hits, which tied for the team lead and was eighth highest in the conference. Knox scored a team-high 43 runs (third in the league) and stole six bases.
Knox was on fire in her final conference tournament. She had a .467 batting average in the tournament’s five games, recording seven hits in 15 at bats, which included a pair of home runs and three doubles. She also drove in 10 runs and had an incredible 1.067 slugging percentage.
She went 3-for-4 in Anderson’s come-from-behind 7-6 win over Mount Olive in the tournament opener, including a three-run game-winning home run to center field. Knox also accounted for the Trojans’ only run in a 2-1 setback to Limestone with an RBI-double.
Knox also blasted a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Trojans a dramatic 4-2 win past the eighth-seeded Lady Falcons.
Knox’s parents, Kim and Susan Knox, were there for the tournament. The two were a constant fixture and most of their daughter’s games.
“My parents have been my constant support through the whole thing,” Knox said. “That’s not just in softball. My dad was like my coach. He was the best coach I had. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have made it to the college level. My mom was my biggest fan.
“They went to all the games they could. I’m thankful for them a lot.”
This year marked the third time in Knox’s career that she earned all-conference honors.
As a freshman, she was named the conference’s Freshman of the Year and was voted to the first team. She led the Trojans in batting average (.416), at bats (137), runs scored (45), hits (57) and doubles (18).
Knox earned second team honors in 2008 after hitting .333 with a team-best 11 doubles and 16 RBIs.
As a junior, Knox clubbed eight homers, drove in 28, scored 31 times and had a .333 batting average. She was named to the all-tournament team as a junior.
Knox enjoyed all kinds of success throughout here softball career.
“Performance-wise, in travel ball we won the World Series two years in a row,” Knox said. “I’ll always have that memory with me.
“In college, (the highlight is) the weekend at the tournament. The best part of all was the friendships I made and the relationships I’ve made. Some of these people ended up being my best friends.”
Knox was just as successful in the classroom, earning a 3.9 GPA. The senior worked just as hard hitting the books as she did hitting a softball.
“Our coach stressed academics over athletics,” Knox said. “It was always about time management. Sometimes you had to say ‘no’ to the fun things.”
Knox, who will graduate May 8, is going to step off the softball field and into student ministry at NewSpring Church in Anderson (S.C.).
“I know that the Lord has been calling me to ministry,” Knox said. “I know that’s in Anderson right now.
“I’ve also been looking into foreign missions. I’m going to Kenya in August. Hopefully, that will open more opportunities for more missions.”
Knox will miss the bat and the glove, but she’s completed her softball mission. She’s excited about her next one.