Deja Cheatham is a people-to-people person.
In one sense that’s literal. The Northside High School student-athlete is a People to People Ambassador. As such, she has traveled to France and England.
In another sense, it’s psychological because as of late, she’s been driving the opposition crazy.
Just ask Howard, Perry, Hawkinsville and Mount de Sales, four teams that fell to the Lady Eagles this past week. Cheatham during that span was 15-for-18. She had two homeruns, a double and drove in seven runs – all the while raising her batting average to .533. She also stole two bases and fielded her position in left with no errors – plus “making several great catches,” said Head Coach Meredith Belcher.
For being that kind of people-to-people person, Cheatham has been named the Academy Sports+Outdoors Athlete of the Week.
The senior is the daughter of Kynette Cheatham. She played junior varsity for Northside one year. The other three have been on varsity.
As far as that People to People Ambassador, that’s just the beginning. She is also a preschool teacher in Southside Baptist Church’s children’s ministry program and this past summer she worked as a student missionary in Peru. And, she is also a Northside High Fellowship of Christian Athlete’s member.
As an athlete, she said her greatest accomplishment has been “sticking through my sport and not quitting even if I really wanted to.”
Also, she added, the difficult part is, “being a leader and thriving to do your best in all of your responsibilities. The challenging part is, “having the mindset to play even harder when all odds are against you.”
Cheatham’s favorite movie is “Toy Story.” Her favorite TV show is “Pretty Little Liars” and her favorite food is “beef tips and rice.”
“Pa pa,” aka Van Cheatham, gets the nod as the one who likes her sport the best. Part of that, she said, is because he played in the Air Force. Part of it is the fact he enjoyed watching her mom play and “now he can watch me.”
As far as a “hero”, that would go to Catherine Reeves. “She has been my truest friend at my lowest point and has been a blessing to have in my corner. She has been there spiritually for me through my junior year; I wouldn’t have been able to get through that time without her.”
Add God into that “wouldn’t have been able to get through” mix: “Only God can handle and guide me through my biggest struggles,” she said.
Maybe later, but right now that – struggles – doesn’t appear to apply a whole lot on the softball field.
Coaches love it. Fans love it. Teammates love it – and oh by the way, she “guarantees” no other team in Houston County has a “better bond” than the Lady Eagles.
The opposition? Not so. But that’s just because they’re finding her people-to-people “talent” plenty hard to beat.
