FARMINGTON -- How tough would it be to be a senior and move from the place where you've grown up, asked Farmington softball coach Randy Osnes presenting a rhetorical question.
A living answer was spelled out by how Paige Purifoy lived her senior year of 2013-2014, effectively blending in at Farmington High School underneath the spotlight of being daughter of new principal Jon Purifoy. Paige's contributions to Lady Cardinal athletics were immediate and consistent as she went out for volleyball helping Farmington qualify for the State 4A tournament in the fall of 2013.
Osnes addressed Paige directly during a ceremony commemorating her signing a national letter of intent to play women's college softball at Crowder College, of Neosho, Mo. in May.
"It's amazing to me how you blended in so well," Osnes said marking his observation of Paige's participation in the preparations for a Veteran's Day celebration as one of her personal landmarks which impressed the 18-year coach.
Paige also went out for softball in the spring, batting .418 with 19 RBIs, 9 doubles, 15 runs scored and five stolen bases on the way to receiving All-Conference recognition and sealing her welcome in the sight of Lady Cardinal fans and coaches.
Osnes pointed out all eight seniors on the softball squad except for Paige had been in the program all four years and yet no sign of timidity manifested at least outwardly when Paige stepped on the diamond.
Jon Purifoy said he discussed the competitiveness of Farmington athletics with regard to softball and volleyball with Paige prior to the move and also pointed out strengths of the town.
"The community that's here, it's more of a hometown community and that was one of my decisions the reasons why I wanted to be here at this school was because of the area, the people that work here in the school district," Jon Purifoy said. "All of that kind of incorporated everything not just the athletic part of it but the school in itself and how it is academically here as well."
"[Dad], he pretty much told me from the start to always just have fun and be you. It was really hard for me to move from all the way down six hours away in Texas and come up here and make new friends this year," Paige said. "He just told me to be myself, work hard and you have to work hard for what you get and he taught me that. I've enjoyed it so much this year. I've have so many friends and I have so many great people in my life right now and I just love it."
One of the relationships Paige built after relocating to Farmington over the course of the summer of 2013 and her senior year was with John Sisemore, father of her teammate Oakley Sisemore, who recently took over the softball program at Crowder College, at Neosho, Mo. Sisemore offered Paige a scholarship to continue her softball career at Crowder and she jumped at the chance.
Osnes declared Paige had a great season and wished she had another year because he had so much fun being around her.
"Her desire to win was phenomenal and she was a pleasure to coach," Osnes said.
Another Texan turned Cardinal, long-time Farmington assistant softball coach Steve Morgan, was equally impressed with Paige's effort and said everything she does is full-speed trying to get better.
"I admire that and I think it will carry you a long ways," Morgan said.
Jon Purifoy pointed to Paige's ability to be outgoing and also do well in her classes as well as on the field was very pleasing to him as a dad.
"It's hard to describe but I think with her personality and her ability to do many things that she's going to go a pretty good ways in life."
Jon Purifoy described his vision for his daughter as wanting her to do what she is comfortable doing and explained his vision for Farmington High School students.
"We want to be able to get them all the education that they need to get them prepared for life when they leave here and that's what I've tried to do as a parent and that's what we're trying to do as a community and as a high school just prepare these kids for the next step in their life that's our goal."
"I think she [Paige] has got a pretty good head on her shoulders and I think that she's interested in becoming a teacher in time as well as possibly a coach."
Paige said her immediate goal was to go to college and play softball, then transfer and continue her career and admitted the appeal of the game was steering towards coaching.
"I also want to become a coach when I'm older. I want to keep my life around softball pretty much because I love it, I love the sport so much."
Paige enjoyed her senior year so completely that she has been named Inspirational Athlete of the Year for 2014 at Farmington by the ENTERPRISE-LEADER.
Sports on 12/24/2014