AVON — Riverside High School senior Leya Harvey celebrated one of the biggest milestones of her young life on Friday when she signed a letter of intent to play college softball at Mississippi Delta Community College.
But, Harvey does not have too much time to rest on her laurels. As the only senior on this year’s Riverside softball team, Harvey is too busy leading her young players.
“Leya provides great leadership for our team,” Riverside head coach Brad Andrews said. “She provides confidence to our young players and helps create a sense of family.”
These younger girls have taken to her as kind of a big sister. As coaches we can only do so much as far as communication but a lot of times you have to hear it from someone around your own age.”
Said Leya, “Being a leader just feels normal to me. I feel like everything blends well on this team. We have a lot of really talented young girls and I feel like they mesh and we have a great team chemistry. We all support each other.”
Harvey is also switching from catcher to shortstop this season, a coach’s decision she happily accepted since she knows it will help her team.
Early this season, Harvey’s leadership has helped propel the Lady Bulldogs to an early 4-1 record. Along with Harvey, this year’s squad is anchored by juniors Ann Hankins, Allie Reed, Sydney Sheppeard and Addison Wicker.
Taking over the spot from longtime ace Lexi Kilgore, Allie Reed is the number one pitcher on the Bulldogs this season. Seventh grader Bella Mardis starts at catcher. Junior Sydney Sheppeard is at first base. Seventh grader Addy Lemonis is at third base. Freshman Ceirra Leblanc is at second base. The outfield is led by freshman Ashley English, junior Ann Hankins and seventh grader Paisley Misskelly.
“We thought this year would be a potential rebuilding year because we only have one senior and three juniors on entire roster and we have three seventh graders starting,” Coach Andrews said. “But, honestly, the sky is the limit . Of course, it comes down to continuing to develop our pitchers. Allie can’t do it by herself. We have to have someone to come in and eat up some of those innings when she might get tired.
“Offensively, we are a work in progress. Right now we are a team that the top of the lineup can produce and pick each other up. But, the bottom of the lineup being so young, they just need to get some at bats.”
Coach Andrews is also returning as the head coach of the Riverside Bulldogs this season. Coach Andrews, the athletic director at Riverside, has coached high school softball for 12 years, but stepped down from the position for two years when he became the school’s athletic director. He said he is glad to be back coaching, and is especially thankful of the help he is getting this season from assistant coach Ryan Chunn.
“Until I got back I did not realize how much I missed coaching these girls,” he said. “That first day when we were able to get back on the field and saw the fun we had in putting in the work. It was something I missed but didn’t realize it. I have a great assistant coach in Ryan Chunn who is dedicated and loves the kids.”
