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By Joanna Chadwick

Senior season is what Derby’s Alexis Enslinger had been looking for. The softball poster featuring the seniors. The individual banners for each of the seniors.

“I miss being out on the field with all my friends,” said Enslinger, who signed at Northern Oklahoma. “It’s so exciting with the community watching and it’s just fun to be out there.”

But because of COVID-19, the Kansas State High School Activities Association canceled the spring sports season.

“It was kind of hard to find out that we weren’t going to play this year,” Enslinger said. “I’ve been looking forward to my senior year since I started when I was 5. It was hard to see that I wouldn’t be able to finish out the year with my best friends. It’s one of the last times we get to play as a family. It’s hard not to finish what we’ve been working on for the past three years.”

Enslinger, who plays second base and in the outfield, was also waiting for her chance to be a starter.

“I was excited to finally be able to be one of the leaders on the team and help other people do what I did last year,” said Enslinger, who was the designated hitter as a junior.

“(Last year) I was only hit. I was in the lineup, but I didn’t play the field. This was going to be my first year as a starter.

“We all have a role on the team. It’s your job to stay positive and help people. My job was to help others and help them stay positive.

“I was so excited. I’ve been waiting for this year for the longest time.”