CALEDONIA — Caledonia high school senior Lauren Brown signed to play softball with Itawamba Community College on Friday, taking her talents north to Fulton to play college ball.
While she was considering a few options, she felt ICC was the place for her for a number of reasons, with proximity to her family a big factor as well as the quality of the program itself.
“I went there for camp a while back, and I just really liked it,” Brown said. “It felt like home. It’s close to my brother and my dad too, so it’s just a homey feeling.”
A ceremony at school celebrating her and her achievements was held on Friday, with a crowd of family, friends, teammates, and coaches all there for her big day. However, even through the excitement of the future to come however, she has remained focused on her senior year and closing out strong in sports and academics. It’s easy to understand why given she’s top of her class and a multi-sport athlete who is already a state champion in volleyball. Soccer season starts soon as well, and her last ride with softball starts in the spring.
“It’s just a really good feeling going into my last season, knowing that this is my senior year and I can finish it on a good note,” Brown said. “And also just to really enjoy being with my team and have fun with it.”
The coaches are glad to have one more year with Brown, as she’s been an important player for the team since she was in middle school. Last year, the team went 19-9, going on a playoff run that ended with a playoff series loss to Pontotoc. The team had plenty of senior talent, but Brown played a big role, and her experience now makes her all the more valuable as the Cavaliers look to have another good season.
“Lauren has been in the lineup ever since she was in eighth grade,” Caledonia head coach Andy Finch said. “As an eighth-grader she added a lot, played defense, and from then on she just stayed in the lineup. She’s worked really hard to earn this; she’s worked hard not just in softball but in soccer and volleyball as well, and she’s No. 1 in her class grade wise as well, and that says a lot about Lauren.”
There is pressure in her leadership position after losing the 2022 senior class, but she’s already embracing that role before this season, and continues to try and set an example for the younger players coming through.
“We had some really good seniors last year, and we all got close,” Lauren said of last year’s graduating teammates. “I feel like I learned a lot from them, and this year is my turn to be a leader and bring in what I’ve learned.”
The role will be easy for her considering she’s already stepped up as a leader on the team. Finch already views her as a role model for the younger players and someone who backs up their talent with work ethic on and off the field.
“Lauren’s a good leader on the field as far as the way she plays, the way she presents herself, and the way she leads not just by action but by word,” he said. “She’s very encouraging, and these younger girls can learn a lot just by watching her play and listening to her.”
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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