Softball: Former Milton star athlete Lexi Worrell elevated to Pace softball head coach

It wasn’t that long ago when Lexi Worrell was a standout multi-sport athlete in Santa Rosa County.

Now, more than seven years since her prep career ended, Worrell is now a multi-sport varsity head coach.

The 25-year old was announced as the new Pace softball head coach of the Pace on Thursday.

“It’s really exciting and I’m actually really blessed to have this opportunity,” Worrell said.

Presently leading the Lady Patriots girls golf program, Worrell takes over on the diamond for veteran head coach Enrique Eligio, who enjoyed a successful four-year stint at Pace.

Worrell has built an impressive athletic resume to this point, beginning with her time playing golf, basketball and softball at Milton.

As a senior catcher in 2015, she helped the Lady Panthers capture their first regional-quarterfinal win in program history. Her father, Danny, coached Worrell during her softball career. Her mother, Tracey, did the same on the links, as they collected four constructive district titles, highlighted by the team’s state appearance in 2014.

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Following four years of competing for the University of South Alabama women's golf team, Worrell returned to Santa Rosa County to be an assistant under the Jay softball and basketball squads under Brian Watson. She then transitioned to Pace in recent years, joining Eligio’s staff while also leading the Lady Patriots softball junior varsity team.

“Growing up when I was in high school, my parents coached me, so I’ve always grown up with good coaches. And I’ve had the opportunity to coach under Coach Watson at Jay, he was a really big inspiration for me,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to be a coach and I’ve always wanted to be a head coach. I didn’t think this would come this soon to me, so it’s pretty cool that everything is falling into place right now.”

Now, Worrell is in charge of one the state’s best softball programs. Powered by the dynamic junior combo of Jayden Heavener and Shelby McKenzie, Pace has advanced to the state Final Four each of the last two years.

Heavener was named PNJ’s Pitcher of the Year in 2021 and 2022 while McKenzie was selected as PNJ’s Hitter of the Year this past spring.

The Lady Patriots posted a 25-5 record last season, highlighted by a 12-game winning streak. Moving up to Class 6A, the team won its region before bowing out in the state semifinals after an extra-inning affair with eventual champion Melbourne.

The team graduated just four seniors from last year’s talented roster. Pace will look for its third-straight Final Four appearance and try to pick up its first state title since 2007. While those items are the ultimate goals, Worrell’s objectives are more geared toward the short term.

“I don’t want the girls thinking right now, ‘Hey, we want to win a state championship,’” she said. “Yes, that’s a goal, that’s a great goal and, of course, it’s my goal as well, but we got to focus on what we need to focus on right now, put in the work during the offseason, do the work in season and take it one game at a time.”

Turning 26 years old before the regular season starts, questions may naturally arise as to if someone as young as Worrell can keep the Patriots train rolling. However, with the administration’s backing, the inexperienced head coach is confident she can handle the challenge.

“I am young, but I think I’ll learn every day and the girls will learn every day,” she said.. “I’ll get some good help to help me out. … I’m here for the girls and I want to do what’s best for us to win.”

There are certain benefits to taking on this job at a younger age. Worrell believes she’ll be able to relate to her players as a young adult woman. With that said, there’s still a thin line to navigate.

“I love the girls and if I was in high school, they’d all be my friends. I feel like I was in high school yesterday,” Worrell said with a laugh. “But now that I am their head coach, it’s a matter of gaining that respect for me and just having that discipline while at the same time having a good time with them.”

Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached at (850) 503-3828, on Twitter @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com. 

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Former Milton standout Lexi Worrell named next Pace softball head coach