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Columbia Central’s Morgan relishes role as leader, ambassador





Columbia Central centerfielder Saviya Morgan makes a throw from the outfield after catching a fly ball.PHOTO BY CHRIS YOW / MAIN STREET MAURY

Columbia Central centerfielder Saviya Morgan makes a throw from the outfield after catching a fly ball.PHOTO BY CHRIS YOW / MAIN STREET MAURY

Far more important than her leadoff spot or center-field position, Saviya Morgan is playing a critical role as leader and ambassador for her Columbia Central softball team.

Ranked among the Top 40 softball players in the 2024 class — nationally — Morgan’s presence on the field and in the hallways is something first-year coach Jon McDonald says is priceless.

“The more people see her play, she’s exposing everybody on the team,” he said. “Yeah, those people may be there to see her, but they see our other players too, and that’s a great tool to recruit our hallways with.

“It’s a great opportunity to see college coaches coming to our games.”

Embracing the role as both leader and liaison, the sophomore said she loves being able to play the game she loves with the people she sees every day at school.

“Ever since I came to Columbia Central, they’ve been really great to me. No matter how high I’m ranked or whatever, I am their friend and teammate first,” she said. “It’s the bond I have with the girls here. We have become best friends, and we work really hard together.”

Columbia Central softball’s Saviya Morgan leads her team at the plate with a .714 batting average.PHOTO BY CHRIS YOW / MAIN STREET MAURY

Columbia Central softball’s Saviya Morgan leads her team at the plate with a .714 batting average.PHOTO BY CHRIS YOW / MAIN STREET MAURY

McDonald said Morgan has not only embraced the role, but has delivered in droves. His team has 11 freshman players, and only looks to grow from there.

“They realize that playing with someone of her caliber makes everybody better,” he said. “They want to hustle and match her work ethic. It’s going to help us moving forward because they see that you can get recruited while playing here.”

A member of the nationally-ranked Birmingham Bolts travel softball program, Morgan is routinely playing against some of the top competition from around the country every weekend throughout the summer and fall, but playing for her school is just as important to her.

“School ball is important because I’m still working to get better, but also because these are my best friends, and I love to play with them,” she said. “My role as a leader is very important because the next few years that I’m here, the team is going to grow and be bigger and better.”

Saviya Morgan lays down a bunt in a game earlier this season for the Columbia Central Lions.PHOTO BY CHRIS YOW / MAIN STREET MAURY

Saviya Morgan lays down a bunt in a game earlier this season for the Columbia Central Lions.PHOTO BY CHRIS YOW / MAIN STREET MAURY

None of that is to say her on-field role isn’t important. She and her team wouldn’t have the platform they do if she were not hitting better than .700 at the plate on the year with 50-plus stolen bases.

She’s also a menace to offensive players who live in the gaps because her speed allows her to track down long fly balls nearly anywhere in the grass.

“As soon as the ball is hit in the outfield, if it’s from right-center to left-center, it’s a no-fly zone,” McDonald said. “Everybody sees that she can cover the ground, but they don’t see the arm she has to go with it. There are coaches who test it once, but they don’t test it again.

“It definitely makes my job easier and more comforting knowing that she’s out there.”

That skill level comes from years of working with her father, but natural ability has certainly played a role in her success. She’s also found that her ability to be flexible at the plate is a weapon she intends to use.

Columbia Central’s Saviya Morgan slides into second base during a game in 2021.RIC BEU / MAIN STREET MAURY

Columbia Central’s Saviya Morgan slides into second base during a game in 2021.RIC BEU / MAIN STREET MAURY

Not an exclusive slapper – she does have three home runs on the year to go with six doubles and three triples — Morgan can find the hole in the defense and exploit it.

“When I’m in the box, I look at the defense and see what holes are there, and if I can read it – I do it,” she said. “My speed lets me play differently than other players, so I’m always just trying to find a way to get on base and then start looking for the next bag.”

Once she’s on base, opposing teams may as well just put her on third base because she’s more likely to swipe the next two bags than teams are to catch her. That is a luxury for McDonald’s team.

“When you’ve got somebody like her who can lead off a game and get on base, and it turns into a double or a triple because she can steal two bases in two pitches, it’s huge. We just have to be able to convert those into runs,” McDonald said.

Summit’s Saniya Hunter tries to apply the tag to Columbia Central’s Saviya Morgan.PHOTO BY CHRIS YOW / MAIN STREET MAURY

Summit’s Saniya Hunter tries to apply the tag to Columbia Central’s Saviya Morgan.PHOTO BY CHRIS YOW / MAIN STREET MAURY

Right now, Morgan is converting infield singles into runs as often as she is young softball players into teammates. With McDonald serving as the program’s fourth head coach in four years, the program has fallen far from its 2003 state title, but Morgan knows she’s got time to reach that goal.

“I think our team is going to be better because more girls are coming out to play, and we are going to get to state eventually,” she said.

Summit relief pitcher Bailey Stephenson pitches to Saviya Morgan on Thursday.PHOTO BY CHRIS YOW / MAIN STREET MAURY

Summit relief pitcher Bailey Stephenson pitches to Saviya Morgan on Thursday.PHOTO BY CHRIS YOW / MAIN STREET MAURY

 

 

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