When Weston High School announced that Cecilia Akin would be the girls softball coach in 2022 it completed a journey that ended right where it started – back home. It also allowed her dream to become a reality. She now has the only job she wanted at the only place she wanted to be at.
“This is all I have ever wanted to do,” said Akin. “To be the head coach of the Weston softball team is my dream job.”
Akin credits her former coach and current WHS Assistant Principal, Debbie Pender and her aunt, Kim Shows, who stepped down after one year as the girls softball head coach but will continue to be with the program as Akin’s assistant, with instilling the desire to follow in their footsteps.
“I am here because of the influence Coach Pender and my aunt Kim had on me,” reflected Akin. “They both have made such a difference in my life and have been wonderful inspirations for me.”
Her desire to one day run the softball program at Weston was obviously apparent to both her mentors as well.
“Coach Pender always told me when I was playing that she knew one day I would be back,” laughed Akin. “Aunt Kim also knew that this is what I had wanted to do as well and I am so grateful to her to allow me to be her assistant last year and basically swap places with me now so that I would have this chance.”
As a player Akin was named Class B All State first team in both her junior (2015) and senior (2016) seasons at WHS where she pitched the Lady Wolves to consecutive district titles. Over the two year period she compiled a 36-15 overall record that included a sparkling 14-1 record in district play and a combined 13 shutouts.
After graduation Akin took her talents to Hinds Community College in Mississippi where she was a starting pitcher for two years and earned NJCAA All State honors her sophomore year. From there she transferred to Louisiana Tech where she finished with a degree in English in 2020. Now she is back home where she has always wanted to be and where her heart never left hoping to be able to bring back the winning tradition that she helped develop.
“I want our girls to be able to experience the success and joys of winning,” said Akin. “They have great potential to do so and I am excited to see what we can achieve as a team. “
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