The National High School Athletic Coaches Association announced in a press release Thursday Neshoba Central softball coach Trae Embry is a finalist for the NHSACA national softball coach of the year in softball.

Embry, who has led the Lady Rockets to five straight state championships in fast-pitch softball and six straight in slow-pitch, said being a finalist for the award is humbling.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized by my peers and state coaches association, and none of it could have happened without great student-athletes, both past and present,” Embry said via text message. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the national coaches convention and be one of the top eight finalists.”

The banquet will take place at the association’s national convention June 27 at the Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, according to the press release. Softball is one of 19 recognized sports categories for which the association recognizes a national coach of the year.

The NHSACA boasts to be “the oldest coaches association in the nation formed by coaches, for coaches, and has been recognizing national coaches of the year since 1978.”