January 23, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
Another outstanding DCHS softball player has signed a letter of intent with Cumberland University of Lebanon to play collegiate ball for the Phoenix after she graduates here.
Kenzie France, a senior, put pen to paper Wednesday at DCHS. Members of Kenzie’s family, coaches, and fellow players joined her for the occasion including Heather Stanfill, head coach of the Cumberland University Phoenix.
Cumberland is a member of the Mid-South Conference affiliated with the NAIA.
“The reason I chose Cumberland is because I have always been a little bit of a home body and it was close enough that I could be away from home but I could also come back whenever I needed to and when I went to visit there it was a great family atmosphere and Coach Stanfill really made me feel I was part of the family. Everyone there is just so loving. I am so blessed and thankful for this opportunity and I give all glory to God,” said France.
“The first time we saw her play we definitely knew we wanted her. She is just an all around athlete. A good hitter and a good fielder and more importantly she is just a good person. I think for us she will fit right in with our current team. Everybody is excited to have her. Personality wise she just clicked with our team. Everybody wanted her and I think she will be a standout player for us. My goal is for her to move right into that first base position,” said Coach Stanfill.
Kenzie joins a growing list of softball players from DCHS who have made the move to Cumberland University after their high school playing days.
“We have had great success with players from DeKalb County. It started with Victoria Bennett and then we got Tyra Graham, Kayley Caplinger and down the line. It’s been incredible the character they have which matches really well with what I want,” added Coach Stanfill.
Although Kenzie will be handling first base duties at Cumberland, she will primarily be on the mound for her senior season with the Tigerettes this spring where she has had past success. Kenzie also achieved another feat last season by having set the DCHS softball program’s all time homerun record as a player for her career.
“I am expecting more big things from Kenzie this season. Big things from a big hitter. She will be primarily on the mound for us this year. She has been very good there for us but at the plate is where she owns it. As s sophomore she hit 15 homeruns and last year as a junior she had 60 RBIs. Everybody pitched around her. She set the all time homerun record here for her career at the end of last year. I have to check but I believe she had five homeruns as a freshman, 15 as a sophomore and 8 last year. She tied Tyra Graham for all time homeruns in a season as a sophomore. Kenzie is a prolific big bomb hitter,” said Tigerette Coach Danny Fish.
Kenzie said her career goal is to work in health care. “I would like to go into nursing and be a nurse practitioner with a major in mental health,” she said.
As for the upcoming softball season, her last as a Tigerette, Kenzie has high hopes. “I am so excited to see what this season has in store for us. We are going to work for it and I am hoping we go back to state,” Kenzie concluded.
Cumberland University softball has been selected fifth in the Mid-South Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Head coach Stanfill begins her 12th season with the Phoenix and returns five starters from last year’s club that finished 26-22 overall, 11-15 in conference action. Senior Tyra Graham of DeKalb County and junior Madison Woodruff both earned First Team All-Mid-South accolades last season.