Brookhaven Academy has a new softball coach in Kaylin Burke Lofton. The school also has a new softball field, which is expected to be ready for the Lady Cougars’ July 31 first home game.

     Lofton, 24, replaces longtime coach Ricky Allen who has retired from his part-time position. Lofton is a 2005 graduate of Enterprise. Her husband, Seth, is head baseball coach at Wesson.

     “I’m excited about the opportunity,” said Lofton. “Our team has a lot of potential.”

     She said BA’s first practice is July 9 and their first fastpitch game is July 27. The Mississippi Association of Independent Schools elected to discontinue slowpitch this year.

     The new field, located between BA’s football and baseball complexes, has been sodded. Work on the fence was expected to be completed this week.

     “Everyone is excited about our new field,” said Lofton. In the past, home games were played at the Hansel King Sportsplex.

     Lofton played for Steve Sasser at Enterprise and Allen Kent at Copiah-Lincoln Community College. She played the outfield and the infield at Co-Lin and saw playing time behind the plate when catcher Lauren Smith was injured.

     “I learned a lot from Coach Sasser and Coach Kent,” said Lofton. “I have let the girls know exactly what I expect from them. We will compete and play hard. We will be OK.”

     She had the opportunity to coach the team during a summer league schedule played in Monticello.

     Pitching and catching are the keys to success in fastpitch. Lofton said she has several promising pitchers on a young team. She only has two seniors in catcher Natalie Keene and outfielder Tori Smith.

     Olivia Lofton pitched last year as a freshman. Alli Livingston, Alex Rai Smith and Anna Grace Covington also work in the circle.

     Lofton’s assistant coach, David Livingston, worked several seasons with Allen. There are 28 players on the junior high and varsity squads.

     This is Lofton’s fourth year at BA. She has been teaching youngsters in K3 and is moving up to K4.

     Lofton said she and her husband have been involved with baseball and softball most of their lives. They have a 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Kenzie Kay.