Lakeland Christian School’s softball team recently won its second consecutive 3A state championship, and Plant City resident Camryn Wineinger played a big part in it. Wineinger, a freshman, went 6-for-8 with four runs, three RBI, a double and a home run throughout the tournament.
Wineinger wins a $25 gift card from GNC at Walden Woods. She can pick up the gift card at the Plant City Times & Observer office, 1507 S. Alexander St. #103.
This season couldn’t have gone any better, could it?
No, it really couldn’t have. I think having the experience from the 2015 state championship really prepared us, and we all went in with hopes at the beginning of the season, wanting to win. It was pretty awesome.
I know LCS and private schools do softball a little differently than public schools, so when did you start playing on this team?
I started in seventh grade. This is my third year on the varsity team.
What role do you fill on this team?
When I came on as a seventh grader, I wasn’t expecting to start. But I started the whole year in left field. In eighth grade, I was our catcher the entire year. This year, I was rotated at center and right field.
Which is your favorite?
I love catcher but, obviously, as a team player, you have to do what the team needs. Outfield is what I was called to do this year, to help out my team.
You’ve won back-to-back state titles and went to the regional semis your first year. Is this the most fun you’ve ever had, playing with this team?
Absolutely. This year, all my experiences have been the most fun. Our teammates get along so well. We do so much outside of softball. We hang out all the time on weekends, go to movies and stuff, and our bond is so close — it’s been a great year.
What was your favorite moment from this season, whether in a game or not?
We did a walk together for cancer — one of our P.E. coaches at school has cancer, so we did a 5K walk for him. We also had a big sleepover that was really fun, and we pranked one of our teammates into thinking, the night before the race, that it was time to get up early. It was funny. It was at 1 a.m., and we had to get up at 7 a.m. We switched the time to Paris time.
Do you play any other sports?
I have in the past. I swam competitively since I was 5 years old — really tough, six days a week. I had to give that up because it’s such a dedicated sport, but I liked softball better. It was one or the other, and I couldn’t do both.
Is there any sport you’ve never played, but always wanted to try?
I’ve always said that, if I didn’t play softball, I would want to do tennis.
Do you know where you’d like to go to college?
I haven’t decided yet. This summer, travel ball is completely dedicated to getting recruited. We’re going to showcase tournaments in Texas and Georgia … I’ve been in contact with a few universities, emailing, but my goal is to play D-I softball wherever I end up.
Do you have a dream school?
I don’t really have a dream school. To me, academics are so important because, after that four years, that’s what I’m going to do for the rest of my life. The dream school just has to have the dream major — whatever that ends up being.
You get $1 billion in the bank one day. What’s the first thing you buy?
Probably pay off my mortgage. Then, I buy a dream car, which I don’t know what that would be. Maybe a Mercedes-Benz G Wagon. Or, I would buy a mountain house in Colorado because I’m obsessed with snowboarding. I love it so much.
You get any superpowers you want.
Oh, 1,000% invisibility.
A little girl comes up to you and asks how to be a good softball player one day. What do you tell her?
Have a really good softball IQ, because it’s not all about skill. You can gain skill and technique but, if you don’t have a good enough understanding of the game, it’s hard to be a good player. Being around these college coaches recently, it stands out to you. You can just look around like, “This girl knows what she’s doing. This girl doesn’t.”