Riverside High School’s Leya Harvey, the Planters Bank Player of the Week, is willing to do whatever it takes to help her team win.
Harvey is the type of player who leads by example.
Harvey is just a freshman, but she is one of the Bulldogs’ vocal leaders.
“If something needs to be said, she is ready to speak up,” said her coach, Brad Andrews. “She also has the talent and the work ethic to keep getting better each day.”
Harvey’s willingness was no more evident, said Coach Andrews, when she agreed to be the team’s catcher.
“Catcher is a sport that is tough to play, and not everyone wants to do it,” the coach said. “But, Leya knew that we needed a catcher and she didn’t think twice to say that she would do it. She has caught quite a bit for us.”
This past week Harvey had an exceptional performance in three games at the Cancer Strikes Out Tournament in Vicksburg. Harvey had a batting average of .333 at the tournament and an on base percentage of .666. She also had three steals.
Harvey is one of a number of players on the young team who are improving with each game, said Coach Andrews. This year’s team is full of a number of seventh, eighth and ninth graders.
Players like Lexi Kilgore, Morgan Cotton, Brianna Leslie, Alyissia Hawkins, Lindsey Chamblee, Morgan Cudd, Jaycee Holeman and Allie Reed have helped their team tremendously.
Kilgore, for example, pitched her team to a victory at the tournament, and Cotton had a number of great hits.
“Right now our goal is to win more ball games.
