For seniors Kendell Wilcox and Simyah Smith, softball has been more than just a sport -- it's been the foundation of their friendship, their leadership, and their future.
As key figures for Baytown Sterling’s softball program, both players have spent years developing their skills together, pushing each other to new heights.
“I’ve just always been in softball for as long as I can remember,” Wilcox said. “The social aspect of it all has really resonated with me, since I get to play all over the country with my club team. The impact that has on you is irreplaceable.”
Smith’s journey to softball took a slightly different path.
“I actually started off in baseball before making the switch over to softball,” she said. “Eventually, I got onto the same team that Kendell did, and we’ve been together for most of our lives.”
That long-standing chemistry has carried over to the field at Sterling, where Wilcox and Smith play off each other’s strengths.
“Since we’ve played together for so long, we can stay in tune just by giving a look,” Wilcox said. “At this point, we can read each other on the field, and I feel that gives us a subtle connection.”
Smith echoed that sentiment, emphasizing their leadership role on the team.
“We’ve known each other for so long, so it’s really about posing that demeanor to the other girls,” she said. “I also go by this Bible verse—Ecclesiastes 4:9-10: ‘Two people are better than one. For if one person falls, the other can reach out and help.’ I feel that sums us up best.”
As much as they’ve grown together at Sterling, Wilcox and Smith are also preparing for the next step.
Both have signed to play at the collegiate level—Wilcox with Kansas Wesleyan University and Smith with the University of St. Thomas in Houston.
“Playing in college has always been a dream of mine,” Wilcox said. “It’s so exciting to think about how things will be next year and what it could potentially bring for me. I was initially drawn to Kansas Wesleyan because it offered the ability to study nursing while getting to play the sport that I love.”
Smith had similar priorities when choosing her college.
“Just like Kendell, I’m also intending to become a nurse,” she said. “We both had opportunities to go D1, but we put an emphasis on our future, in addition to our playing careers, which is why I chose St. Thomas.”
Before they move on to the next level, their focus remains on helping Sterling make a push for the postseason.
“We’re a very young team, so there’s a lot of bonding that comes with that in order to get from the 5-hole to the 4-hole,” Wilcox said.
Smith added that this year’s squad has embraced a key mindset.
“A word that we came up with this year is ‘diligence,’” she said. “We need to be willing to work hard and show up if we’re going to pursue our goal of surprising people.”
With their leadership, experience, and determination, Wilcox and Smith are hoping to leave a lasting impact on the program before they take the next step in their careers.