THE STORY BELOW IS PART OF THE CONFERENCE CAROLINAS' CHAMPIONS MIND, BODY AND SOUL FEATURES. THE PIECE WAS WRITTEN BY BOB ROSE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BODY, MIND AND SOUL, PLEASE VISIT THE LEAGUE'S WEBPAGE.
WILSON, N.C.--Every time Barton College's star second baseman
Madison Mercer belts a softball at the plate, she will invariably hear a shout from the grandstand.
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Mama boom!"
A precocious two-year-old boy named Drake, decked out in full Bulldog merchandise gear, doesn't miss a Barton game, home or away. His favorite player? That's easy. It's his 21-year-old mother Madison, the Bulldogs' second-leading hitter (.360).
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He does cheer," said Mercer. "
It's the funniest thing. My grandma (Debra Sutton) has a different game day shirt for him to wear for every game. His favorite is a jersey with number 44 (her number) and pinstripes. Some of the shirts have 'BC' on the front and 'Mama' on the back. If you see him, you're going to know who he belongs to!"
A native of Wilson, Mercer grew up in the shadow of Barton College, as she became a softball standout. She also met her fiance and Drake's father, Dawson May, there in middle school, and the two started dating in high school. Named a Big East 3A Player of the Year and All-State at Hunt High School, she batted over .500 in both her junior and senior years. Division-I college scouts attended her games and scholarship offers followed.
Madison chose East Carolina University. And while she played in 11 games as a freshman and was named to the Dean's List for both the fall and spring semesters, ultimately she felt ECU was not a good fit. She entered the transfer portal after her first season.
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I had a few other Division I offers, but I wanted to get back to my community," she shared. "
Wilson is a very small town. It's a special place. It's where I grew up and where my family is. Everyone is so supportive."
At the time she committed to Barton, little did Madison know just how important that support system would be.
Returning to her hometown,Mercer enrolled in her sophomore classes in the fall of 2023. She became acquainted with new teammates and Head Coach Melisa Shock, along with her new professors, making a smooth transition into a new environment.
Then, in the blink of an eye, her entire world changed. Madison learned that she and Dawson, who was working as an assistant supervisor at a concrete plant in nearby Wake Forest, were going to be parents.
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It was very much a surprise," she said. "
We found out a week before my season started."
She still marvels at how supportive her coach and teammates were when they learned of her pregnancy.
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Coach Shock (now the head coach at Morgan State) played such an important part in my story. The only person I told before her was my mom. Here I was trying to navigate this, she didn't know me because I just got on campus. She was so positive through the whole process, always asking if there was anything she could do for me."
Shock called a team meeting upon learning of Madison's life-changing news.
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I remember Madison announcing she was pregnant to the team," said Mackenzie Taylor, the Bulldogs' senior shortstop and close friend. "
We were all surprised. Everyone immediately went for hugs. We told her we would support her every step of the way."
The first step was welcoming little Drake into the world, which happened on Feb. 6, 2024.
While clearly the top priority in Madison's life is being a loving and devoted mother, it certainly hasn't limited her many avenues of achievement. Since having Drake, consider all the accomplishments she achieved in the past two years:
* She has earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and will also receive a master's in business administration this spring.
* As a softball player, she is a team leader and one of the Bulldogs' star hitters. Currently she ranks second on the team in batting average (.360), doubles (8) and RBI (19), and first in both sacrifice flies and bunts.
* And get this: four months after Drake was born, she opened a women's clothing boutique store called Just a Lil' Boujee Boutique, located in the nearby Rock Ridge area.
But make no mistake, Madison's universe revolves around Drake. So, how does she juggle so many things at such a young age. Time to cue up the old Sister Sledge song, We Are Family.
Madison and fiancé Dawson recently purchased a new home on Rock Ridge School Road that's located across the street from her parents, Craig and Heather. Her mother plays an integral part in both Madison's and Drake's daily life.
It's all about time management, Mercer explains:
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I typically leave the house around 6:15 a.m.," Madison said. "
My mom's coming in when I pull out. I'll lift weights in the weight room from 6:45 to 7:45, then I come back home because she has to go to work. I'll make breakfast for Drake and get him ready for the day. Then we'll go down the street to a coffee shop and I'll buy him an iced hot chocolate and a coffee for me."
Yet, Madison's day has just begun. On a rotating basis, one of her grandmothers or even great-grandmothers will take the handoff of Drake and provide family daycare while Madison attends classes, does homework and attends practices or games each afternoon.
And Barton softball games are a very big part of the family's life. While Madison has played in every Bulldog game the past two years as the team's "iron woman" (88 straight), son Drake has matched his mom by also witnessing each one of those contests.
"When I leave the house, he knows when I'm going to a game," Madison said, chuckling. "His grandma will ask him, 'do you wanna watch momma playing ball?' He gets real excited."
As much as Drake has fun at the games, Madison's teammate might even enjoy the mom-and-daughter spectacle even more.
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He's the team mascot," Mercer said. "
They just love him. And when I come to the plate, they have a cheer for me. They yell, 'Mommy Mads! Mommy Mads!"
Then Drake chimes in, always shouting, "Hee Haw Momma, hee haw!"
Madison stresses how she is so grateful for Drake being raised by a village of people and support.
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When I came to Barton, I couldn't have seen this situation. But from the very beginning, my teammates poured love into me and Drake. That means so much to me. You don't find that everywhere. It's been really special. They all just gravitated to Drake. They play with him. They're always interacting with him. Many of them have become my best friends."
That particularly goes for Mackenzie, the other member of Barton's double-play combo. Not only are they close both on and off the field, she even is a part-time employee at Madison's clothing store.
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I've worked in customer service for her over the summer and during winter break," said Mackenzie. "
Some teammates and I have also modeled (new arrival) clothes so she can put them on her website."
Other Bulldog players have worked shifts–"they pop in and pop out" Madison says–and help on her Monday Night Live modeling show on Facebook. But it's Madison who purchases all inventory (day-to-day and week-to-week ordering") and handles all marketing and social media activities.
Madison said she first became interested in finding unique clothing items when she played on a travel ball team as a young teenager. In fact, she established her boutique initially as an online business in eighth grade. She put it on hold when COVID hit during her freshman year of high school.
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When I had an opportunity to open a store my first reaction was, 'gosh, I don't know. I've got a lot going on.' I prayed about it and decided it was something I've got to do."
Again, she credits her remarkable support system for enabling her to balance motherhood, school, softball and a clothing business.
"I
couldn't do it without my family. My grandparents help me out. And also my great-grandparents. My parents and fiancé. It's someone different every day, and I think Drake loves that."
As daunting as Madison's schedule is, her first-year coach says she's not surprised due to her second baseman's tenacity.
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I would definitely say she is a very determined individual," Coach Cooney stressed. "
When she sets her mind on something, she's definitely all in. She's very fiery. I think she is an awesome example of women's empowerment. She also protects and is very passionate about her teammates. I love that about her."
As a softball player, Madison is clearly a team leader. Cooney says Mercer doesn't talk that much but when she does, teammates listen.
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She exemplifies a confident leader," the coach said. "
She doesn't back down as a competitor. And in the big moments, she always comes through. Madison's really mentally tough."
Cooney shares a story about just how tough Madison truly is.
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She got sick about a month ago. She could barely talk and had trouble breathing. We were playing a doubleheader and I couldn't get her off the field. I told her, 'Madison, you need to go to the doctor."
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She went home to take a nap between games. But when I'm writing the lineup for the second game, there's Madison. She said 'Coach, I'm here!' Then I said, 'I told you to stay home! What are you doing here?' She ended up having a helluva game. She had the flu and was practically dying and she carried the team!"
Beyond Madison's talents as a player and leader, everyone associated with the Bulldogs says the special sauce that connects the team is two-year-old Drake.
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He makes it fun no matter the outcome of our games," said teammate Mackenzie. "
When we walk down the walkway to the field, there's Drake giving high fives. You can always hear him cheering. It definitely lightens the mood."
Surprisingly, one of the team's favorite times is when it rains. The players will get a call from the coach, asking them to rush to the field to help pull the tarp covering the diamond.
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And here comes Drake in his little rain boots," laughs Taylor. "
He loves to be with us and pulling the tarp."
Coach Cooney says that Madison is adamant that she receives no special treatment because of her hectic lifestyle. The only exception might be when Cooney scheduled practice at a time that the team could attend Drake's second birthday party. About 10 of her teammates attended and cake was served.
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Yeah, and he really dug in," mom said.
Mother, team leader and business owner,
Madison Mercer is the epitome of superwoman.
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Beyond playing six days a week, the baby and boutique just blows my mind," said Cooney. "
She really inspires everyone in the program. It gives our girls a bigger perspective on life. It's more than softball."
Madison readily admits that motherhood has profoundly changed her life.
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The biggest aspect for me was that I had to grow up a little bit," she admits. "
My life had to completely change. Drake has been the best thing that's ever happened to me. He taught me a different kind of love. I don't know what I'd do without him. He's my best friend."
Dawson and Madison have yet to set a wedding date.
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I'm just trying to get through school first," she admits.
Might there be any thoughts of having more kids to add to her already full life?
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Not right now. I've got a lot going on. And Drake is still the center of our world."
