By Kyle Coppola
Maddox Adams Off to Red-Hot Start for South Sumter Softball
BUSHNELL, Fla. — South Sumter High School’s Maddox Adams has wasted no time making an impact in her first season with the Lady Raiders, delivering a scorching start at the plate and setting the tone for a team looking to make another deep playoff run.
Through just five games, Adams is hitting an eye-popping .611, leading the team with 11 hits and adding a double to her stat line. Even more impressive, she has yet to strike out, boasting an on-base percentage of .611.
“She has been a dynamite addition to our roster,” South Sumter head coach Kylie Ondriezek said. “She quickly worked her way to the leadoff spot in our lineup and is a tough out for any pitcher that faces her. She sets the tone for our offense.”
But Adams isn’t the only Raider swinging a hot bat. Emily Shepherd has chipped in with six hits while leading the team in RBIs. Meanwhile, Raven Parker has been a dual threat, pacing South Sumter in doubles and standing out as one of the team’s top pitchers.
Senior Nathalie Williams has also continued her strong start to the season, helping the Lady Raiders to a 3-2 record. South Sumter has reached the FHSAA state playoffs in each of the last three seasons, and with Coach Ondriezek’s squad looking sharp early, they appear poised for another postseason push.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
