How Cedar Creek's Sarah Adams brings her basketball swag to the softball field

Emely Hernandez
Monroe News-Star

When Sarah Adams is frustrated, upset or just overwhelmed and needs to blow off steam, she picks up a basketball or in some cases sets up the batting tee and grabs some softballs. 

She said there were moments during the basketball season when she found working on her swing was a productive outlet. 

"In softball you can just unleash whatever kind of pent up rage you have on the tee," Adams said. 

She had been torn between basketball and softball growing up, but found herself leaning toward the field more than the court. The Cedar Creek senior continues playing both sports, setting records and filling leadership positions. 

"I'm going to go pour my heart and soul into softball for them," Adams said. " I always have and I always will, but you grow this stronger connection with them because of that."

Sarah Adams dribbles during the LHSAA Division IV championship game where the Courgars fell to Southern Lab.

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When Cedar Creek girls basketball coach Gene Vandenlangenberg first met Adams, Adams boldly told him that she would help lead the Cougars to a LHSAA Division IV championship title. She was a close.  The Cougars were state runners-up this season. 

"She made my job a little bit easier because she did things you didn't have to coach," Vandenlangenberg said. 

Adams averaged 21 points, six steals and six assists this season. The point guard set a school record when she scored 40 points in the 81-34 win against Central Catholic on Feb. 20. 

Adams finished her career  with 1,856 points, 602 steals, 602 assists and 423 rebounds. 

"You kind of have to be cocky. You have to have a little bit of swagger to you in order to be that good," Adams said. "Yeah, you can be good and you can be chill and I don't get up in people's face and scream and clap and yell at them and stuff like that, but I let my game do that talking." 

In softball, she's the shortstop and uses the swiftness and vocalness needed to play point guard.

Cedar Creek senior Sarah Adams excels on the basketball court and the softball field

Last season, Adams hit .500 with 11 home runs, 15 stolen bases and just four strikeouts  to make the LHSCA All-State team.

Adams didn't have to guarantee any softball state championships this season.  She already has been part of two LHSAA Division IV championship teams, beating Northside Christian 18-15 in 2019 and False River 7-0 in 2018. 

Adams said the change of pace going from basketball to softball is something that she has mastered over the years.

"I think it's fun. I think it's relaxing, and it's therapeutic in a sense," Adams said.

Emely Hernandez covers University of Louisiana-Monroe athletics and high school sports. Email her at ehernandez@thenewsstar.com and follow her on Twitter @emhernandeznews.