How has Shay Hollingsworth has found success at Lexington softball? BigXthaPlug is a musical key

LEXINGTON – Whenever Shay Hollingsworth steps to the plate at the Henderson County Sports Complex, two familiar sounds to the Lexington softball team belt out.

The first, the song “Mmhmm” by the rapper BigXthaPlug is Hollingsworth's walk-up song. The second, a coordinated chant from the dugout. Hollingsworth’s Tiger teammates yelling “Shay, Babay!”

Hollingsworth listens to the rap artist’s music before every game. BigXthaPlug, the stage name for Xavier Landum, and his music has helped connect the team with first-year coach, Mason Taylor, a self-described “Big X guy.”

“Every time it comes on, man, I’m singing every word,” Taylor said. “Some of these girls in the dugout have no idea what he’s saying, but I’m singing every word and it’s a laugh now.”

It worked for Hollingsworth. In Tuesday’s District 12-3A showdown against Hardin County. Hollingsworth had a hit and scored a run in the 2-1 victory on senior night .

Hollingsworth has been a pillar of consistency for the Tigers throughout her high school softball career. She has a .353 career batting average and 143 career RBIs for the Tigers as a four-year starter at both second base and shortstop.

This season Hollingsworth is batting .388 with 33 RBIs, 11 doubles and five home runs for a Tiger team that has been in the state championship game every year for the last three, including the 2022 TSSAA Class 3A state championship win over Gibbs.

“It just means a lot getting to be out there,” Hollingsworth said. “It means a lot because, obviously, it’s a great experience just to be in the state championship anyways, and then to win is even more so.”

Hollingsworth is close with everyone on the team, even the seniors who helped guide the Tigers to that state title in 2022.

Junior Kinley Melton spends most of her time at catcher for the Tigers but started her high school career at third base, right next to Hollingsworth. Naturally, the two are close friends and spend time hanging out around Jackson.

“We’ve known each other since we were little,” Melton said. “Whenever we first met, she was just this wild child and I never thought she was going to calm down.”

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Taylor, who joined Lexington after a season as South Side’s coach, recalled playing against Hollingsworth and knowing what kind of competitor she is. Having gotten to know her as a person, he noticed an interesting mindset switch.

“When she steps between the lines, she’s got such a serious look and almost a mean personality,” Taylor said. “But, man, when she gets off the field, she’s such a goof. She cuts it up – just a great kid, a great family and just a joy to be around.”

Austin Chastain is a high school sports writer covering West Tennessee. Reach him by email at achastain@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ChastainAJ.

This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: How has Shay Hollingsworth has found success at Lexington softball? BigXthaPlug is a musical key