Marty Gordon
Another Auburn High School softball player has announced plans to play at the next level.
Machenzie Booth said this weekend that she has committed to play at Lynchburg University.
The rising high school senior joins a long list of players from the Riner school who have continued their career in college, coming from a high school program that has lots of success. This past season, Auburn fell in the state playoffs, but it comes on the heels of a 2023 championship, which was the schools fourth straight setting a new Virginia High School record for that mark.
Booth, who returned for her junior year after injury, was named all-Mt. Empire District first team this past season.
Booth had several options to continue her playing career, but says Lynchburg felt like home.
“I’ve been on campus a lot and every time I have been it was a great experience. Getting to know the coaches and players on the team has been so much fun. I also have family in the area, so that is a plus as well,” she said.
Booth was 9-3 with 120 k’s, not giving up a single run in the district tournament and three rounds of regional tournament.
Booth credits a lot of support from family, friends and doctors in order to get back on the diamond.
“I spent a lot of time in physical therapy for almost a year, which was a lot of hard work. The year prior to my surgery, I tried to get myself into shape in preparation for my surgery as well. Hip surgery was a lot not just physically but also mentally, but I was determined to get back on the mound again,” she said.
With another season yet to come at Auburn, Booth is continuing to take hard courses in preparation for college.
“Keeping my grades up is important to me. On the softball field, I am excited to get to play with the girls from last season. We have a lot of the same girls returning. Though, we unfortunately did not win the state title this past year, I hope to work hard and achieve that goal this upcoming season.”
The University of Lynchburg, formerly known as Lynchburg College, has approximately 2,800 students.
The school participates in NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). The Hornets program offers 24 intercollegiate athletics programs including softball.
This past spring, the Lynchburg softball team ended the season 29-13, with an impressive home record of 20-2.
Dawn Simmons, who is the winningest softball coach in Old Dominion Athletic Conference history, became the head softball coach at her alma mater in 1999 and has developed the program into a national power including a 2019 NCAA Super Regional berth.
The 2024 season marked the 11th-straight year (omitting the COVID-shortened 2020 season) the Hornets surpassed the 20-win mark.
Booth hopes to improve all of her pitching skills such as hitting my spots, velocity, and just overall mechanics.
“I’m super excited to play for Coach Simmons and I can already tell that I’m going to grow so much as a player and person. I hope to get stronger physically and mentally on the mound, and make friends with my teammates along the way,” she said.
Booth is undecided on a major at this point.