Every family that has an athletic son or daughter knows the fun yet hectic routine: eat, sleep, play ball, repeat. Balancing school work, family commitments, practice, and games requires the time management skills of a high-powered CEO. Multiply that challenge by two, and one understands exactly what life is like for the Mays – father Chad, mother Tricia, oldest son Logan, daughter Madison, and youngest son, Dawson, an aspiring actor featured in several magazines. The two oldest Mays children, Logan and Madison, keep everyone busy with baseball and softball. On any given day, these sibling sluggers can most likely be found on a ball field, where they are either practicing or competing at the top of their game.
For Logan May, a rising sophomore at Lowndes High School, baseball has been a passion since the age of five. Playing at right field in middle school, Logan later moved to first base in eighth grade, a position he considers a “heads up spot.” In addition to his work at first base, Logan has discovered another talent – pitching. He was approached by one of his ninth grade coaches, Rusty Beale, about the job, and after a few bullpen sessions, he became a closer this past spring. Keeping his pitches low and using his best curve ball, Logan was effective in shutting down opposing batters.
Logan, a right-hander, also had a solid freshman year at the plate. Batting in the number-three or -four slot, he garnered an impressive .425 average and was a team leader in hitting. When asked the secret to his success, he says he always tries to stay ahead in the count and practices hitting to the opposite field. He hit his first homerun in seventh grade and has continued to be effective as a hitter.
When not playing for the Vikings, Logan gets in extra work with his travel team, the Renegades, where he will pitch and play first or third base. With his favorite DeMarini CF5 bat, he has traveled the Southeast playing travel ball. He will also attend camp at Mississippi State this summer as part of the LHS Baseball program.
Madison May is also making a name for herself on the diamond. An upcoming eighth-grader at Hahira Middle School, she has excelled in softball, a game she has played since age five. Madison played for the local parks and recreation program through third grade before being selected to play for the Southern Pride Travel team. Her hot bat landed her the job of lead-off hitter, a role she has held for the past two years. Madison finished the postseason as a team leader in hitting, and she has not struck out since the beginning of last summer. Defensively, the right-hander plays short stop, and after going 3-for-3 in her final game, she looks forward to winning a region championship next year.
Like her older brother, Madison is a member of an elite travel ball team, The Florida Select, out of Jacksonville, and she plays both middle infielder and outfield. She has played in numerous tournaments throughout Florida, and is coached by Leah Bennett, a former Florida State centerfielder. Madison will begin her second year with Florida Select this August.
Though softball consumes much of Madison’s time, she is also a stand out student with a 96.3 grade point average. As for college softball, she is a fan of Florida, Florida State, and Georgia. Her favorite softball player is Jennie Finch, former collegiate All American for the Arizona Wildcats and gold medal Olympian. Madison also models occasionally for Sylvia’s Models and Talent.
The Mays are fierce competitors for their schools and travel teams, but off the field, they are loyal supporters of each other. Both wear number 15 on their travel teams, a number Madison considers lucky. From an early age, they threw and pitched to each other, and practiced hitting together in their backyard batting cage. With a family that truly takes the team approach, there’s no doubt this brother-sister duo will continue their days on the diamond for many years ahead.
Feature Type: Special Features/Bonus: Special Interest
Athletes: Logan May, Baseball and Madison May, Softball
Head Coaches: William Davis, LHS and Hahira Middle School
School Name: Lowndes High School and Hahira Middle School
City, State: Valdosta, Georgia
Byline: Geraldine Herring, Guest Columnist for In the Game
Title: “Diamond Duo: Brother and Sister Logan and Madison May Slug it Out!”
