By T. Scott Boatright
The Cedar Creek Lady Cougars have roared into the Division IV softball playoffs with the aggressive play of junior centerfielder Allie Furr playing a large part of the team’s success.
A Lady Cougar since being part of a state championship team as a seventh grader, Furr now plays a crucial role as Cedar Creek’s lead-off batter as well as speedy outfielder.
She started the season that way.
“I got off to a really strong start, batting over .700,” Furr said. “It’s kind of averaged out more facing tougher competition and pitching. But, I can make contact.”
She can do more than just that.
Furr has three home runs, with one being of the inside the park variety this season. The inside the park homer is all due to what is maybe Furr’s biggest asset — her speed.
And that includes fast athletic vision during games.
“I’ll take a look and read the defense,” said Furr. “If they’re close I’ll try to hit it in the gap over them. If they’re back, I’ll try to drop one in front (of them) to use my speed. I have a lot of infield hits and bunts.”
“”I see things. I see them fast. It helps me make contact when I’m batting. It helps me cover more ground in the outfield. I can get to a lot of balls because I can (get a read on them).”
Furr said her speed comes from drills she puts herself through.
“I do speed and agility workouts in the summer,” Furr said. “That’s helped me a lot. I love to play basketball. That helps with that. I work with my dad on what we call a speed shoe, where it resists you but will make you faster working out with it.”
Cedar Creek coach Julie Riser calls Furr a leader.
“She’s a quiet leader,” Riser said. “She’s not real loud, she just plays the game. She plays it the right way and hustles everything out. She goes 100 percent, even through practice. She can be hard on herself and gets frustrated if she doesn’t get on base. She doesn’t like to get out. She’s kind of a perfectionist, but that’s good for us … and her.”
Still only a junior, Furr has already committed to continue her softball career at Louisiana Tech.
“It’s relieved a lot of stress off of me where I can just play, without worrying about contacting coaches and talking to different colleges,” Furr said. “Knowing I have that, and have that to work toward, that’s all I need.”
Furr said that having former teammates continuing their athletic careers at LA Tech played at least some role in her decision to commit.
“I’m really close with (current Tech softball player Lauren Menzina),” said Furr. “I know she loves it there. It’s one person I know that can help me get to know the other girls on the team, so that’s good.”
Furr’s love for the game came at a young age.
“I’ve been playing since tee-ball when I was 4,” Furr said. “It just took off after that.”
Furr’s brother Kasten is currently an infielder for the University of New Orleans, and also played a part in her love for the game.
“My brother was already playing, so my parents put me in early and I just liked it,” Furr said. “They didn’t push me at all into it. I did that myself.”
Sibling rivalry also helps fuel Furr’s fire.
“We’ve always compared how we do and joke around with each other about who’s more athletic, and things like that,” she said.
Furr has another love that she hopes will play a part in her future.
“I’ve wanted to be a vet for a while now,” Furr said. “I’ve shadowed at places and really like it. I have three dogs and a cat. I just love animals and that would be a great job for me.”
This holiday weekend, Furr will be focused on the Lady Cougars upcoming Division IV opening round playoff against St. Mary’s, a team that defeated Cedar Creek in the third game of the season.
“We know we’re better than (we showed),” Furr said. “No one hit well in that first one and we made too many errors. But we’ve gotten so much better as the season’s gone by, and have played the competition that lets us know we’re ready for what’s ahead.”
Photo: Darrell James (dgjames.photoshelter.com)
