World Ovarian Cancer Day Hits Home for Troy Softball

TROY, Ala. – As the Trojans prepare to honor World Ovarian Cancer Day at the Troy Softball Complex tonight, two current members of the Troy Softball team reflect back on the life of Alex Wilcox.

May 8th is internationally known as World Ovarian Cancer Day. This cause hits home for much of the softball community as the sport has banded together in the fight against ovarian cancer in honor of Mississippi State standout Alex Wilcox.

Wilcox was a member of the 2018 Mississippi State softball team who inspired the nation with her courageous fight against ovarian cancer. That fight ultimately took her life in the summer of 2018.

On Sept. 15, 2018, the Bulldogs retired her No. 8 jersey, making her the first female student-athlete in Mississippi State history to receive the honor.

However, this cause especially hits home for Troy Softball.

Pitcher Leanna Johnson and co-interim head coach Holly Ward both had the honor of taking the field with Wilcox.

Johnson and Wilcox go way back -- all the way back to rec league softball.

"We started playing rec ball together when we were between 9-12. Whenever all-stars were picked, we were always on the same team."

Johnson remembers one thing very clearly about her early playing days with Wilcox: she was a baller.

"Alex was a baller. She was a phenomenal pitcher. Her and I went to the same pitching coach, and she would throw right before me on Wednesdays. I got to watch her finish her sessions, and she was just good. Everything she did was just good."

The two went on to play high school softball together at Brantley High School, where they won several state championships.

While the duo was very successful together on the field, the fun didn't stop off the field.

"I remember one postseason tournament, our coach got a call that there was a room being really loud. Our coach obviously didn't think it was us as leaders on the team, but we got a call. We were really acting a fool, having the best time."

After Wilcox was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she had to hang up her days in the circle and started playing centerfield. Johnson knew then that she had to pick up where she left off.

"To follow in her footsteps and pick up where she left off meant a lot to me. She was a great athlete on the field and a great teammate off the field no matter what she had been through that day.

I remember her senior year, we played Goshen for our first game. We put her in the bottom of the lineup so that she could get there from chemo. By game time, she was out there playing centerfield."

Wilcox went on to play her freshman season at Mississippi State, where Ward got to step on the field with her during her senior year.

Ward, who holds several top-10 single-season and career records inside the circle for the Bulldogs, remembers learning of Wilcox having to stop pitching.

"When I was in college, and I heard that Alex had to stop pitching, it definitely had an impact on me and made me want to play and pitch for her. She instantly became my 'why.'"

That season, as the Bulldogs rallied behind Wilcox, the squad went on to appear in an NCAA Regional.

Wilcox's fight with ovarian cancer came to an end that summer as she passed. Now, Johnson and Ward work every day together as Troy's ace and pitching coach, looking to carry on her legacy.

"There is definitely a bond that is so special between Leanna and me because of Alex," Ward said. "We both are so lucky to have known her and to have been impacted by her. Every time I see a butterfly at the field, I say Alex is there with us!"

As Troy dresses in their teal tonight, both Johnson and Ward want to share the same message to Trojan Nation about who Wilcox was.

"She was a fighter," Johnson said. "No matter what she was doing, she did it with a smile on her face. She fought through every obstacle that was thrown her way with a good attitude. You didn't hear much complaining out of Alex. She was an all-around good human. There need to be more people like her in this world."

"I would love to share just how much of a fighter and hard worker she was," Ward said. "She never complained and always worked her tail off. She hated being limited by chemo, radiation, and cancer. She did everything she could and more. You would have never been able to tell by her actions and attitude what she was going through."

Troy University Athletics

World Ovarian Cancer Day Hits Home for Troy Softball

Players Mentioned

Leanna Johnson

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