Anyone that attended Little Cypress-Mauriceville Lady Bear games in both softball and volleyball over the past several years will certainly remember one young lady – the one with high-energy and always getting her teammates pumped up.

She was ALWAYS easy to spot.

Renna Toomey was the spark that lit the fire for the Lady Bears and what a run it was for the senior.

She was a four-year letter winner in each sport as the Lady Bears made the postseason seven times.

For not only her big Senior season but for what she accomplished over her four years as a Lady Bear, Toomey is the 2019 Orange Leader Female Athlete of the Year.

Toomey was such a key cog and a bundle of energy in everything she did.

“I know people have joked about it at times but I just have that pumped up kind of style and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Toomey. “I love the intensity of sports. I love getting my teammates fired up. I loved when the tide would shift in our favor and that just fired me up more and I would do my best to get everyone going.”

Toomey, who will continue her softball talents at Blinn Junior College, helped the Lady Bears to the District 22-4A title for long-time softball coach Dena Adkins this season.

Toomey hit a whopping .456 with seven home runs and 35 runs batted in. She racked up 36 hits, scored 29 runs and added 10 doubles.

“I hit the ball pretty good in the years before but I was really seeing the ball so much better this past season,” said Toomey. “Sure, a lot of people remember home runs more, but I always enjoyed getting those clutch hits that would help turn a game around into our favor. Those are the ones you remember the most, the ones that help your team get the momentum.”

During her four-year run as a Lady Bear, Toomey finished with a .402 batting average. She had 131 hits, scored 100 runs and drove in 99 and had 15 home runs and 31 steals.

On the mound, she tossed 104 innings with a earned run average of 1.75 and fanned 120 batters while only walking 15.

“Wow, it all flew by so fast and we had so much fun doing it,” said Toomey. “I love my classmates so much. We graduated seven this year and they all have been such a major part of my life and my family’s life as long as I can remember. We all grew up together, went to Select tournaments together and all of that travel ball. It’s a special kind of bond that will last a lifetime.”

She was a four-time All-Orange Leader Softball Team First Team member and was the Offensive MVP of the team as a junior.

Toomey is definitely a true student of the game but has had so much fun playing as well.

“I’ve been playing ever since I was seven and I’ve never stopped enjoying it,” said Toomey. “I just wanted to try my best to get better every single year and help my team to the best of my abilities. They always say practice makes perfect and I constantly pushed myself to be the best player and teammate I could be.”

Toomey definitely stood out on the volleyball court, whether it was dominating at the net or setting up her teammates.

As a senior, she helped lead the Lady Bears to another playoff berth. She sparked Coach Cammie Palmer’s unit throughout the campaign. She powered her way to 286 kills, 457 digs, 55 aces and 23 blocks.

“It was amazing to be a part of four straight playoff teams,” said Toomey. “We had some great matches over the years and played in front of some packed gyms that got really loud. I was fortunate enough to play on some well-rounded teams and we had players that could do a little bit of it all.”

In her LC-M career Toomey finished with 1,358 digs, 757 kills, 123 aces and 66 blocks.

She made the All-Orange Leader Team as a first teamer the last three seasons and was the Defensive MVP of the team last season.

“I loved volleyball so much, whether it was offense or defense,” said Toomey. “I loved being a hitter and loved playing on the back row too. There was nothing quite like getting a big hit, then moving to the back row and serving up a point. That would just get me so fired up. What I liked the most though, was diving on the floor and digging up the ball. I really took it to heart that I was going to do my best to dig up anything hit my way by the other teams’ best hitter.”

Now Toomey will look to hone her softball talents at Blinn JC and can’t wait to see what happens after that.

“I want to go there and play to the best of my ability for two years and then hopefully move on to a four-year school to continue to play the game I love,” said Toomey. “I would like to major in medicine, possibly chemistry and possibly become a doctor one day maybe. Blinn is a super school and it is not far away from home. My parents and grandparents can come and see me play a lot. They have been such a rock in my life. My parents have zipped me all around all of these years, spending countless money with travel ball and such and I couldn’t be more proud to call them mine.”

Toomey, who was named Miss LC-M last week, will certainly take fond memories with her.

“I love LC-M and I’m going to miss it,” said Toomey. “I will have so many treasured high school memories and friendships that will carry on for the rest of my life. Some people just kinda wish away high school, not me, I enjoyed every second of it and it went by so fast.”