Photo: Seated from left: assistant coach Andrea Cutts, Londen Armstrong, and head coach Harley Bumpous. Standing is assistant coach David Smock. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Most high school athletes play and focus on just one sport. But more experts say the advantages of being a multi-sport athlete, especially during youth development, are substantial and contribute to a more well-rounded, healthy, and adaptable individual.
Londen Armstrong, a senior at DeSoto Central High School, was a two-sport star on Central Parkway, tapping into those advantages by choosing to play both basketball and softball for the Lady Jags.
But, when a choice had to be made on a sport to pursue in college, Armstrong decided to pick up the bat and glove and play for the Northwest Mississippi Community College softball team.
Harley Bumpous, who coached Armstrong and the Lady Jags to a playoff spot and a 23-5 record this spring, said her senior outfielder chose Northwest over several offers to play elsewhere.
“Having her get to go to Northwest is a pretty big deal,” Bumpous said. “She’s been a multiple-year starter in center field and in the leadoff spot, so she’s definitely earned the opportunity to play college softball.”
Armstrong has earned some major accolades while patrolling the outfield for DeSoto Central. She was a Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star last season and this year was the Region 1-7A Most Valuable Player, as well as a first team all-DeSoto County choice.
“Londen is one of a kind,” Bumpous said. “She is going to be 110 percent no matter what. She’s definitely an asset.”
This season, Armstrong hit .462, scored 38 runs on 43 hits and drove in 21 runs from the plate. She also smacked four home runs during the spring season.
Statistics weren’t available, but many times during the basketball season, Armstrong was the main offensive threat the Lady Jags had on the floor.
Bumpous said being able to play more than one sport had benefits for Armstrong.
“I think number one, it helps with burnout,” Bumpous said. “A kid that’s doing the same sport year round can get burned out. Our basketball program focuses a lot on the similar things that we do, as far as weight room, progression, things like that. So she really didn’t miss out on a lot of those things.”
Armstrong said it was her dad who encouraged her to play both basketball and softball.
“I had this conversation and at first I didn’t want to do high school basketball, but he convinced me,” Armstrong said. “With basketball, you’re working out different parts of your body than you would in softball. So I feel like it made me more prepared as a whole, because it’s just a different type of training.”
Armstrong, who said she brings consistency on offense and defense, said she is looking forward to being a part of Chelsea Bramlett’s Lady Ranger softball program.
“I would say the biggest thing for me was the community,” she explained. “It just felt very homey to me, and that was really refreshing, so I felt comfortable about going there for the next two years.”
