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Lakota West's Lamara Parker a Hit at Kentucky State

Lamara Parker had quite a freshman season playing softball at Kentucky State.

Parker, a 2007 Lakota West High School graduate, captured numerous honors playing at the NCAA Division II level this spring.

Parker was named to the second-team all-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference all-star team. She was also named the conference freshman of the year.

"It’s awesome to hear how well she is performing," Lakota West softball coach Keith Castner said. "I really felt that she would be very successful because of the quiet confidence that she has on the softball field."

That confidence certainly paid off for Parker this spring. She started all 33 games for the Thorobreds (18-15).

She hit .551 with 49 hits, 11 doubles, four home runs and 44 RBI. Her slugging percentage was .854.

"I was very confident at the plate", Parker said. "What made me confident was my teammates, because they were always cheering me on and they were also confident that I would get a hit. It took a lot of practice and hard work to maintain my batting average."

This summer, Parker said she will try to improve on choosing the right pitch to swing at and hitting the gaps in the outfield.

"My goals for next year are to win the SIAC conference games, to win the NCAA Division II tournament and to be player of the year," Parker said.

Parker, a utility player, said she enjoyed meeting new teammates from different states with different personalities. Parker said she would also like to see more time at a position she loves, shortstop.

Castner said he doesn’t have any doubts Parker will succeed in college.

"I am very proud of her receiving the conference freshman of the year award,” Castner said. "This shows that she will be a major impact for the next three years at Kentucky State."

Parker helped Lakota West finish 14-15 overall and 11-7 in the Greater Miami Conference in 2007. The Firebirds were one of 32 teams left in the Division I state tournament last spring.

Parker, who was named to the second-team all-Greater Miami Conference as a senior, still holds the Lakota West school record for runs batted in during a season with 32 which was set in 2007. She holds that record with former high school teammate Rachael Shepherd.

In 2006, Parker was also named to the second-team all-Greater Miami Conference team as a junior infielder.