Fort Gibson’s Miley Wafford – Softball Spotlight – Presented by David Kolb – State Farm Insurance

After exiting in regional or district play the last five years, Miley Wafford and the Fort Gibson Lady Tigers are having a season to remember and Wafford, the only senior on the varsity squad, reflected on it. “I think we’re just hitting a lot better this year than we have in the past and there’s a better chemistry as well.” The Tigers are 22-7 as the regular season draws to a close. They’ve won their first district title in a while, finished the regular season with a winning record for the first time in a while and they get to host a regional. “She’s a good hitter who can hit it, slap it and, occasionally, hit with some power,” said Fort Gibson coach Jerry Walker. “She consistently puts the ball in play, has a magnet for a glove and is a very heady player with a softball IQ that allows her to play just about any position. This year she’s played primarily in centerfield, but we’ve also had to use her at second base some late in the season.” Last year Miley hit .345 and was named all-conference and this year she’s hitting over .400 for the season and seems well on her way to achieving at least one of her goals for her senior year of getting her team deeper in the playoffs. In addition to softball, Wafford also plays basketball for the Tigers and was on Fort Gibson’s state championship golf team last year. Even though Miley is a quiet leader by example, according to both her and coach Walker, you can’t help but think that her senior presence has to be one of the reasons the Tigers are finding more success this year. “I remember when I was an underclassman, and the older girls would tell me to carry the balls in kind of a bossy fashion sometimes. But I believe in not asking the younger kids to do something that they don’t see me doing as well,” said Wafford who is in the National Honor Society and Native American Club at Fort Gibson. Miley would like to play either golf or softball in college should she get the opportunity and will study to be a dental hygienist.