MVP Candidate: Lyndon Hankins, RF, Myrtle Beach
The Gulf Coast Softball Association (GCSA) has only had one player hit more home runs than games played, Lyndon Hankins.
The Albany, Georgia, native never played a game of college baseball. That’s because his passion in high school was basketball. The former Kennesaw State University guard helped lead the Owls to a Division II national championship in 2004 during his senior year. He played for Kennesaw State from 2001-2004.
Hankins’ transition from a college basketball player to a professional softball player is not a unique one for athletes making the transition from one sport to another. Hankins was a three-sport star at Monroe High School in Albany. He was a starting wide receiver in football, starting guard in basketball, and starting center fielder in baseball.
“It’s no mystery how I was voted most popular in my senior class,” Hankins said with a laugh.
Hankins exudes confidence. In the GCSA, he played right field for the Freedmont and Murray Law Pumas. There he was a two-time MVP of the GCSA and three-time Best Defender winner.
“Softball felt natural, kind of easy,” Hankins said. “I was working for a shipping company, and we had a company picnic day. And we played a pickup game. I was dominating so much that they asked me to sit down. After that, I saw an advertisement in the paper for a tryout for the Pumas, and I went with it.”
From there, Hankins made the Pumas and soon became their star. That led to his chance in the Professional Association of Southern Softball (PASS).
“They told us that some companies were buying all of the teams in our league and forming a bigger league with teams all around the South. I was one of the people chosen as a representative of our league to play, but I still had to try out to make it.”
In the try out, Hankins stood out with his ability to drive the ball to the gaps and over the fence.
“Yeah, the try out was easy. They just had us swinging the bat in batting practice at first. There were a lot of pretty pitches.”
Now Hankins gets an opportunity to emerge as a star in the PASS. So far in the 2012 season, his home run totals have not shown, but he is hitting well. He is batting .515 (17 for 33) through seven games with a double, triple, and home run, to go with 6 RBI and 7 runs scored.
He should be fun to watch with the Myrtle Beach Dolphins, and he should be in talks for top honors when the season ends.