CAIRO, Ga. (WTXL) — The Cairo softball team’s season ended Wednesday afternoon with two losses to the islands in the super regionals. With the loss comes the end of Navayah Johnson senior’s time in a Syrupmaker uniform, but it’s a moment she will never forget, and one she earned through hard work and dedication.

“For them to see her come in as an average player, and to see her work and see what she’s become has been great from a younger person’s perspective,” said head coach Randy Adams of Johnson.

A region title. A deep playoff run. For Johnson, that’s all she could ask for in her final season.

“It’s been a good opportunity, and it’s the most I’ve played and I feel really good about it.”

“Her sophomore year, she came on the scene and struggled,” Adams recalled. “This year, to really see the growth, his approach has improved tremendously.”

A growth that has led the Siropmakers all season.

“It’s a lot of pressure and work, but I’m doing it,” she said. “I help them a lot, they help me a lot. I try to do everything I can to help them.”

As hard as she worked in the field, she worked just as hard in the classroom, sporting a 3.4 GPA.

“She realized that if she wanted to progress in this game and have the ability to make her school pay, she needed to maintain her grades,” Adams said.

“It’s a bit hard !” laughed Johnson to maintain his grades. “We leave school early and stuff, and I’ll have to catch up on work and stuff. It’s kind of hard, but I make it up and stay after school and get some extra work.”

Additional work that Johnson does not hesitate to undertake.

“I’m taking it up a notch,” she said. “I try to help the team as much as I can because it’s my last year. Even if it’s sometimes difficult, I push myself.”

“She goes about her business and she manages her business in the right way,” Adams added. “She’s going to be successful in whatever she does. I can’t wait to see what that leads to.”

It all started on Syrupmaker’s softball field. Johnson said she wants to play softball at the next level, where she will study to become a veterinarian.