From the softball field to the family farm, Lauren Jean Rives can do it all.
Each month, Chandler Nissan picks a student who has excelled in academics and/or athletics, shown great responsibility, and exemplified growth as a young individual.
This month’s spotlighted student is Lafayette Middle School’s Lauren Rives. The eighth grader is one of the starting pitchers for Lafayette’s softball team, coached by Katie Moore. Rives has continued to show excellence in both academics and softball. Her mother explained that softball is the love of her life and she doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. This summer, Rives main goal is to keep improving as a player and pitcher.
“My goal is to get better every year. I want to help the team go to state. We can do it,” Rives said. “Our team is young, but we have some amazing girls and I know we can do it. I consider these girls part of my family. They are just amazing.”
Aside from working under coach Moore of Lafayette’s softball team, Rives takes private lessons from Lauren Lindsey, a pitcher for the Ole Miss softball team. Lindsey will be graduating this year and Rives explained that she will miss her very much, as she has been like a sister to her for quite some time now.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do when she leaves,” Rives said. “I will definitely cry.”
Beyond dedicating her time to Lafayette’s softball team and her schoolwork, she is involved in the Oxford Church of Christ Youth group. When she isn’t on the pitching mound, she loves spending time on the family farm with her grandparents, helping out and visiting Wendy, her favorite cow.
Her mother, Leslie Rives, describes her daughter as an extremely passionate softball player, kind hearted and both mentally and physically strong.
“She is 5’ tall, not a centimeter over, but can help her grandfather pick up 50-pound bags of feed like a grown man,” Leslie said. “He didn’t ask her to do it, he doesn’t want her to do it, she just did it one day to help him out and he couldn’t believe it. All that upper body strength from pitching can help out once in a while.”
Rives is young, but she is one Oxford locals should definitely keep an eye out for as she continues to improve and excel both on and off the field.
Jana Rosenberg is a HottyToddy.com staff reporter and can be reached at jmrosen1@go.olemiss.edu.
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