Covington’s Brinley Cousar and McKenzie Richardson will play together beyond high school

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The Covington High School library is a pretty large place, but there was barely room for all the people who showed up this afternoon to see two well-known softball players make their college choices official.

Brinley Cousar and McKenzie Richardson, two seniors who have been big reasons for all of Covington’s success the last three seasons, have been close friends and teammates since they were eight years old. Still, they didn’t plan on going to the same college. It just worked out the way and everybody in attendance Friday seemed very happy that it did.

“I think it will be pretty cool,” Richardson said. “We’ll be able to live together up in Dyersburg. She’s been one my best friends for my entire life so I think it will be great.”

“I’m excited,” Cousar said. “I’ve always wanted to play college softball, I just didn’t know where. I didn’t really worry about it until my sophomore or junior year. I’m happy with where I’m going.”

Both players have started since their freshman seasons.

Cousar played shortstop as a freshman before moving to second base for the last two seasons. She’s a strong defender, but is probably more known for her hitting and base running.

She’s a career .453 hitter who has stolen 75 bases while being caught just four times in three seasons. Cousar typically hits near the top of the order but has still driven in 67 runs. She can slap, bunt or stand and hit equally well.

“She’s a triple-threat-type kid,” said Covington coach Justus Cousar, who also happens to be her father. “When she gets in the box rarely do I tell her what she’s going to do. She can read the defense and tell where the ball needs to go.”

Richardson’s numbers are impressive as well. She batted .393 last year with three homers and 40 RBIs and is a career .367 hitter with 80 RBIs and six homers.

She’s also recognized as one of the best throwing catchers in the area.

“Her arm has always been really good, always strong,” Justus Cousar said. “I take it for granted a lot of times because it shuts down the other team’s running game. They don’t even try to run on her.”

For a while it looked like Richardson and Cousar were about to play together for the final time. Now it appears they will be together for at least three more seasons.

“Four years has flown by,” Justus Cousar said. “I hate to lose players of that caliber, but that’s just the way life is. I’m really happy they made this decision. Now they’ll have each other and we can watch them play together a little longer.”