Oklahoma State University Athletics
Sibling Love – Lexi McDonald’s Unique Bond with Her Brother
January 26, 2024 | Cowgirl Softball
STILLWATER — As children, Lexi and Cord McDonald bickered and squabbled as siblings do. Fast forward 10 years, they are now best friends who share a unique softball bond.
"We used to not like each other," Lexi said. "But now that we've gotten older, me and him have gotten close and I'd say he's my best friend. Me and him fight like cats and dogs, but in the end he's one of the godliest men I know."
Growing up in Silo, a town of roughly 400 people in rural Oklahoma, there wasn't much to do except to be in each other's company or participate in sports or other activities. With that, there was always some healthy competition amongst the siblings to see who was more successful at their respective activities.
"We were competitive," Cord said. "She was good at sports, but I was a cowboy. I was in the rodeo, with horses and stuff like that, and that was my thing I was good at. She had softball, and she was good at that. We both had our things, but we really did not get close, like we are now, until I was a freshman or sophomore in college."
Once Lexi reached junior high, her commitment to softball grew. She started working with a trainer in the seventh grade to focus on speed and agility and she said he changed her life.
"Athletically, mentally, in everything, he pushes me to be best in every way possible," Lexi said. "I go to him three times a week and we do a lot of movement stuff. For me, that's big, I need to be able to move faster, quicker, every bit of that. Working with him has been good for me and it's not just softball, it's about life."
Not long after McDonald joined the high school team, she saw the fruits of her labor. Before her arrival, Silo HS narrowly missed the state championship in back-to-back years, losing to the same opponent both years.
In McDonald's sophomore campaign, she helped lead her hometown to the first softball state championship in school history in 2019 with a victory over that same team that was previously in the way.
"One thing's for sure, Lexi has always been a winner," Cord said. "She's never been a part of a team that hasn't won some sort of championship."
She led the Lady Rebels to another state championship in 2021 and earned All-District MVP, All-Texomaland and Extra Innings Softball high school first-team All-America recognition.
"She's a really good team player," Cord said. "She's the glue, the straw that stirs the drink and everywhere she's gone, has always done well. Every time she's joined a softball team - travel ball, junior high or high school - they've won championships. There's no reason and no doubt in my mind that she can keep going, even in college."
He still vividly remembers her go-ahead double against Morrison in the state championship game that was critical in Silo winning the 2021 title.
After watching his sister compete for years, Cord decided to join her on the diamond, albeit in a different manner. In a journey that began over five years ago, he's on track to become an umpire for Division I collegiate softball.
"I started doing high school softball a lot, it's pretty fun," Cord said. "I've done more baseball, but most of my partners keep telling me 'You need to start doing softball.'"
Despite pursuing his college degree at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Cord is still taking steps to reach his goal of becoming a full-time umpire. In October of this past year, he attended an umpire camp hosted by USA Softball, where he gained valuable insight from numerous umpires with Women's College World Series experience.
He's scheduled to umpire Division II and NAIA softball games this spring. After finishing his degree in the spring, Cord will seek to reach his goal of becoming a full-time Division I umpire.
It's safe to say that the siblings' relationship has come a long way from the early bickering and squabbling. Even though they're both students in college with full schedules, Lexi and Cord talk almost every day.
In addition to her close relationship with her brother, Lexi has a tight bond with her parents, Mike and Kate, who have set a firm foundation for their children to succeed.
"I have an amazing family," Lexi said. "I've been blessed with the best parents on this planet. They are the best support system I could ever ask for. I can't even describe what they've done for me not just in softball but in life."
After spending some of the holiday break back home in Silo with family, she's recharged and ready for the upcoming softball campaign. With the unwavering support of her family behind her, Lexi is ready for her sophomore season in Stillwater.
"I'm excited to go compete with these girls because you can just tell being around them, that everyone wants to fight and everyone wants to win," Lexi described. "Being only a sophomore, you're new to competing against girls that you have seen on TV and social media, then getting to compete against them with awesome people beside you is incredible. It's a dream come true to get to go compete against awesome people across the field and with even better people beside you."
"We used to not like each other," Lexi said. "But now that we've gotten older, me and him have gotten close and I'd say he's my best friend. Me and him fight like cats and dogs, but in the end he's one of the godliest men I know."
Growing up in Silo, a town of roughly 400 people in rural Oklahoma, there wasn't much to do except to be in each other's company or participate in sports or other activities. With that, there was always some healthy competition amongst the siblings to see who was more successful at their respective activities.
"We were competitive," Cord said. "She was good at sports, but I was a cowboy. I was in the rodeo, with horses and stuff like that, and that was my thing I was good at. She had softball, and she was good at that. We both had our things, but we really did not get close, like we are now, until I was a freshman or sophomore in college."
Once Lexi reached junior high, her commitment to softball grew. She started working with a trainer in the seventh grade to focus on speed and agility and she said he changed her life.
"Athletically, mentally, in everything, he pushes me to be best in every way possible," Lexi said. "I go to him three times a week and we do a lot of movement stuff. For me, that's big, I need to be able to move faster, quicker, every bit of that. Working with him has been good for me and it's not just softball, it's about life."
Not long after McDonald joined the high school team, she saw the fruits of her labor. Before her arrival, Silo HS narrowly missed the state championship in back-to-back years, losing to the same opponent both years.
In McDonald's sophomore campaign, she helped lead her hometown to the first softball state championship in school history in 2019 with a victory over that same team that was previously in the way.
"One thing's for sure, Lexi has always been a winner," Cord said. "She's never been a part of a team that hasn't won some sort of championship."
She led the Lady Rebels to another state championship in 2021 and earned All-District MVP, All-Texomaland and Extra Innings Softball high school first-team All-America recognition.
"She's a really good team player," Cord said. "She's the glue, the straw that stirs the drink and everywhere she's gone, has always done well. Every time she's joined a softball team - travel ball, junior high or high school - they've won championships. There's no reason and no doubt in my mind that she can keep going, even in college."
He still vividly remembers her go-ahead double against Morrison in the state championship game that was critical in Silo winning the 2021 title.
After watching his sister compete for years, Cord decided to join her on the diamond, albeit in a different manner. In a journey that began over five years ago, he's on track to become an umpire for Division I collegiate softball.
"I started doing high school softball a lot, it's pretty fun," Cord said. "I've done more baseball, but most of my partners keep telling me 'You need to start doing softball.'"
Despite pursuing his college degree at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Cord is still taking steps to reach his goal of becoming a full-time umpire. In October of this past year, he attended an umpire camp hosted by USA Softball, where he gained valuable insight from numerous umpires with Women's College World Series experience.
He's scheduled to umpire Division II and NAIA softball games this spring. After finishing his degree in the spring, Cord will seek to reach his goal of becoming a full-time Division I umpire.
It's safe to say that the siblings' relationship has come a long way from the early bickering and squabbling. Even though they're both students in college with full schedules, Lexi and Cord talk almost every day.
In addition to her close relationship with her brother, Lexi has a tight bond with her parents, Mike and Kate, who have set a firm foundation for their children to succeed.
"I have an amazing family," Lexi said. "I've been blessed with the best parents on this planet. They are the best support system I could ever ask for. I can't even describe what they've done for me not just in softball but in life."
After spending some of the holiday break back home in Silo with family, she's recharged and ready for the upcoming softball campaign. With the unwavering support of her family behind her, Lexi is ready for her sophomore season in Stillwater.
"I'm excited to go compete with these girls because you can just tell being around them, that everyone wants to fight and everyone wants to win," Lexi described. "Being only a sophomore, you're new to competing against girls that you have seen on TV and social media, then getting to compete against them with awesome people beside you is incredible. It's a dream come true to get to go compete against awesome people across the field and with even better people beside you."
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