By Derrick Smith

High school student-athletes have many people that can have an influence on their lives. Their coaches and teammates are obvious choices, but teachers in the classroom also have an impact on their students. Mallori Brown says one of her teachers taught her more than just the subject at hand.

“My favorite teacher is Tammy Bates,” she said. “She taught me that no matter the situation I was in I could always lend a helping hand to whoever needed me. She taught me math and most importantly how to be a better Christian.”
Mallori is a senior at Lookeba-Sickles High School. She plays shortstop for the fastpitch and slowpitch softball teams. She began playing softball when she was four years old and says that she has done a lot to get where she is today.
“It’s taken a lot of focus and dedication for me to be successful in sports,” she said. “I had to learn to block out all of the distractions and noise and focus on the main goal, which is winning a state championship.”
There are two other people that have also had an impact on Brown’s life and she says that they have always been in her corner.
“My parents are the biggest role models for me,” she said. “They motivate me to succeed and be better in every aspect of life and push me to be a better person every day. I would not be the person or athlete I am today without them.”
She has made some great memories over her career so far, but Brown says that there is one moment on the softball field that stands out as her favorite.
“I think the biggest highlight moment of my career in softball happened in my junior year,” she said. “I hit an out-of-the-park home run in the first game of the slowpitch state tournament and caught a line drive up the middle to end the game.”
Mallori is also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as well as the Academic Team. She also plays basketball for Lady Panthers, for which she has made two appearances in the state semifinals. She has also made honorable mention for All-State.