Granger sisters keep careers going, sign with Western New Mexico

CARLSBAD ? Plans can be subject to change, and often the heart ends up making a decision the mind can't make. For Lacy and Linzy Granger, the heart won out and the Cavegirl duo will be heading to join the Western New Mexico Mustangs softball squad.

But that wasn't the plan originally.

When the women graduated from Carlsbad High School in May, their minds were on the University of New Mexico and pursuing their degrees there. But as their minds got to thinking, they realized their hearts were still in softball.

"We had decided on Albuquerque, but if we could continued to do what we loved, then we were going to do that," Linzy said.

"We can always go to UNM, but we can't go to UNM and then back to softball,"

Lonnie and Cynthia Granger and Western New Mexico coach Angela Corliss pose with Linzy and Lacy Granger as they sign to play with the Western New Mexico Mustangs. (Submitted Photo)

Lacy said.

After seeing the two play in the state tournament, Mustangs coach Angela Corliss spoke with the pair about continuing their playing careers. At first they weren't sure, but after a visit to the campus in Silver City, their hearts and minds where finally in agreement.

"When we went to state, Coach (Corliss) watched us almost every game and gave us a good offer on going there," Linzy said. "We knew we could always go back to UNM, but we couldn't go back to softball if we went there first."

The trip to Silver City is just over five hours, but it won't be the first time the girls have lived outside Carlsbad. It will, however, be one of the only times in their careers that they will be playing with new teammates.

One of the hallmarks of the Cavegirls the last few years has been the fact the group of seniors had been playing with each other their entire lives. Now all the graduating Cavegirls, including the Grang-ers, will have to adjust to new teammates.

"It is going to be a real big learning experience, because I've always known the next move the person on my team was going to make. It is going to be hard because they don't know you and how you're going to react," Linzy said. "It's just scary going somewhere you don't know."

"It is going to be different," Lacy said. "I've played with different girls a few times, but I like the girls I grew up and played with. It is just going to be a learning experience."

The Granger sisters helped power the Cavegirls line-up with Linzy's .472 and Lacy's .435 batting aver-ages. The two were often in the three and four spots of coach George Frederick's line up, and first and second in RBI with 31 and 43, respectively.

"It made us excited seeing the confiedence of their players," Lacy said. "They want to win, they just aren't there (at school) just because of softball."

The Mustangs went 19-32 overall and 16-22 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in Division II. The Grangers both said they don't know how much playing time they'll get in their first year, but as the current group of starting seniors graduates, the sisters plan to make their impact.

"(Corliss) said there is no promising spots for the seniors just as much as she isn't promising me a spot. She said you have to work for it," Lacy said.

"Just like with the Cavegirls, you have to prove you are better than them," Linzy said.

Their personal lives and playing careers are in a state of flux right now, but one thing hasn't changed.

"Well, I have Linzy. We've always wanted to go to the same school and it would almost scare me not to go together," Lacy said.

"It is always good to have someone doing the same thing as you're doing because you are just as scared as the person next to you or just as brave," Linzy said. "It's good to have her there competing, too. I always want to be better than her, and she wants to be better than me."

Source: http://www.currentargus.com/ci_23688277/granger-sisters-keep-careers-going-sign-western-new?source=rss_viewed

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