HINES FURNITURE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: The Wright stuff: Crestwood's standout freshman steps up against Lake City

Crestwood's Maliah Wright is used to doing it all.

Last season, she was their workhorse, throwing every inning while always needing to be the player to deliver at the plate.

This year, the freshman has some help, but she's still more than happy to step up in big moments.

That's exactly what Wright did on Friday, delivering the game-winning double in a marathon 17-15 win over Lake City, their second win against the Panthers on the week.

Her performance, which was strong across the board, was enough to earn Hines Furniture Athlete of the Week honors.

"Last week, I feel like everyone came together more than we usually do," Wright said, noting her thanks for the support from the Crestwood community. "Last year, backup was kinda bad. I didn't have backup. Now it's better, so that helps. It kinda takes the stress off of me."

For Lady Knights head coach Donald Flippin, Wright's poise stood out. And not just because of the game-winning hit.

"For a ninth-grader, she's very poised, very confident," Flippin said. "She's confident but not cocky. She's very coachable; she seems like she's been in big situations a lot of times. She's not easily rattled.

"She enjoys being able to come through for the team. She embraces the role of being a captain and a leader and coming through when her team really needs her."

Wright knew Crestwood was in for a roller coaster in Friday's matchup with Lake City. Some early mistakes put the Lady Knights in a hole, as they needed an eight-run fifth to get back into the ballgame. She stepped up to the dish with two runners on in a 15-15 ballgame in the bottom of the seventh, and the rest is history.

"We started off with a few errors and got behind a little bit, but people started coming in with clutch hits and plays," Wright said. "In the end, it all came down to me, and I got the clutch hit.

"I just wanted to make contact and get the runners in."

She loved celebrating the moment with her family.

"I know my daddy was jumping all over the field," Wright said, laughing.

Wright finished 2-0 in the circle on the week, which included another complete game performance on Tuesday where she allowed just two earned runs. She hit .616 across the two games and drove in seven runs while scoring four times.

"I'm just working harder every day," Wright said. "Trying to get better to help the team any way that I can."

The freshman pitcher is part of a young core at Crestwood that Flippin is excited to build around.

"A lot of our core is young. The infield, starting-wise, is a ninth-grader behind the plate, a ninth-grader pitching, an eighth-grader playing second and eighth-grader playing third, so there's some youth around her," Flippin said. "I think it helps having her friends around her where they can all develop together and feel like they have room to grow."

Wright can see the difference in the Crestwood softball program since Flippin and his staff took over this offseason.

"It's gotten way better," Wright said of the program. "Everyone is trusting each other a lot more. Last year, there wasn't a lot of trust, and I feel like everyone's attitudes have gotten way better."

Flippin said building that trust and positive mindset early was key.

"Just trying to stay consistent, trying to do the little things right," Flippin said. "My philosophy is to make the plays we should make and clean up the defense a little bit, make the routine plays, staying positive, being disciplined at the plate, taking good swings.

"Building your teammates up and just trying to keep high energy and have girls with high character that will rally around each other."

Wright thinks this is only the beginning.

"I feel like, if we work together as a team, we can beat anybody in our region," Wright said.

Flippin agrees.

"Our goal is to make the playoffs," Flippin said. "It's all about competing, playing seven innings, keeping the energy up and believing we can win.

"Our goal is to make the top four in the region, make the playoffs for the first time in 10 years and play some relevant games at the end of the year."