In only a couple of seasons with Warren Central’s softball team, KeKe McKay has already developed a reputation among her teammates.

“They say I’m mean,” she said with a chuckle.

McKay doesn’t get it. Yes, she can be bit gruff on the diamond. But it’s more of a take-charge, get the job done attitude that has helped her to quickly blossom into a top-flight player.

The sophomore shortstop led Warren Central with a .360 batting average this season and was also a solid pitcher. She emerged as a leader for a program that maintained its high standards while ushering in its next generation of stars. And now, for her efforts, she is the 2025 Vicksburg Post softball Player of the Year.

“It sounds good. It means that I worked hard and accomplished a lot of things,” McKay said. “This is one of my better years. I just worked hard and took lessons. It paid off, so I’m proud of myself.”

MORE ALL-COUNTY SOFTBALL
• Lady Vikes’ Ellis repeats as Coach of the Year
• 2025 Warren County softball stat leaders
• 2025 Vicksburg Post All-County softball team

McKay broke into the Lady Vikes’ lineup as a freshman in 2024 and showed a knack for thriving in difficult situations.

In Game 3 of a playoff series against Grenada she moved from first base to the pitcher’s mound when starter Madison Pant was injured in the third inning, and did not allow a run until the eighth. Warren Central wound up winning 7-6 to advance.

This season, she moved to the critical position of shortstop after six senior starters graduated and locked it down. She led the Lady Vikes in batting average and runs scored (24), hit four triples, and finished with 19 RBIs.

She also backed up Pant as the team’s No. 2 pitcher. In 29 innings over seven appearances she had 35 strikeouts and a 3.37 ERA.

“When KeKe steps on the field, you just always expect good things from her,” Warren Central coach Brian Ellis said. “She works hard. She never makes any excuses. When she fails, she works to correct those failures. Over the years, I think that’s what’s made her the player she is now. She’s just a sophomore, but she’s been playing a lot.”

Ellis added that long summers of travel ball and hard work helped McKay turn into a versatile player. She played first base, second base and pitcher in 2024 before settling in at shortstop this season.

As a freshman, McKay batted .312 with 22 RBIs and 27 runs scored.

“When there’s people getting on she’s going to find a way to move you. She just has that ability. And defensively, she’s just so smart with the game,” Ellis said. “She’s played outfield, middle infield, in the corners, she’s a pitcher, she could probably catch if I asked her to catch and probably look like she’s done it for a long time.”

McKay describes herself as “shy,” but said softball brings her out of her shell. Playing shortstop adds to that transformation by essentially making her the captain of the infield.

Sometimes, she admits, she might bark an order or get short with a teammate. It’s coming, however, from a place of love, competitiveness and a desire to do things right.

“Sometimes at practice it comes out so I can stay focused. I’m not mean, I promise,” she laughed. “I don’t know why everybody says when they first meet me they’re scared of me. I’m just a nice person. I’m chill. I’m laid back.”

If her teammates do fear her, Ellis said they also respect her. In two seasons McKay has become someone they look up to for both her skills and her work ethic.

“She’s not arrogant. She’s got great character. Everybody on the team loves her and she’s a quiet leader,” Ellis said. “The younger ones watch her and say, ‘I want to be KeKe.’”

VICKSBURG POST PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
2025 – KeKe McKay, Warren Central
2024 – Madison Pant, Warren Central
2023 – Abby Morgan, Warren Central
2022 – Jenn Smith, Warren Central
2021 – Abby Morgan, Warren Central
2020 – Hannah Embry, Porters Chapel
2019 – Kelsey Lockridge, Warren Central
2018 – Kelsey Lockridge, Warren Central
2017 – Hannah Embry, Porters Chapel
2016 – Brooke Patterson, Warren Central
2015 – Darby Gain, Warren Central
2014 – Brooke Patterson, Warren Central
2013 – Megan McCullough, Warren Central
2012 – Krista Cortezie, Warren Central
2011 – Mallory McGuffee, St. Aloysius
2010 – Chasity Hearn, Warren Central
2009 – Mandy Fuller, Warren Central
2008 – Sarah Franco, St. Aloysius
2007 – Sarah Kerut, St. Aloysius
2006 – Sarah Kerut, St. Aloysius
2005 – Lauren Anderson, Warren Central
2004 – Lauren Johnson, Porters Chapel
2003 – Laura Beth Lyons, St. Aloysius
2002 – Katie Barnett, Warren Central
2001 – Katie Barnett, Warren Central
2000 – Emily Mathes, Vicksburg