Auburn High School has been one of the most dominant softball programs over the past five years in southwest Virginia.
Leah Harrison finished with a .325 batting average last year for Auburn High School.
Several of David Hurd’s players have gone on to play in college, and another one announced her intentions this week to attend Virginia State University in the fall.
Hurd said Leah Harrison was critical to the team advancing to the state championship game last season. The senior outfielder/pitcher will now take her talents to VSU, located in Ettrick, across the Appomattox River from Petersburg.
“She had the game winning hit in the state semifinal game versus Northwood and threw a shutout (pitching) versus Holston early in the season and had several big hits over the course of the year,” Hurd said.
Harrison has played on the varsity team for two years as a pitcher, outfielder and first baseman and finished the 2017 season with a .325 batting average, four doubles and nine RBIs while stealing thee bases. On the mound, she had two wins and 1.33 earned run average.
Harrison said she chose Virginia State because they have the academic requirements she wanted, the softball program is phenomenal, and the campus has a family-like atmosphere that I love.
“The Lady Trojans that I was able to interact with were amazing and they spoke highly of the university and the coaching staff. Coach Gilbert and I connected when we met. She told me that I would be a four- year player and would not be waiting to play. I wanted to go to a school with high academic standards and join a program that I would get quality game time,” she said.
She began playing tee ball at the age of four and continued her career playing Dixie and travel softball with most of my fellow classmates and teammates.
“I have worked hard on the diamond. I started pitching later than most pitchers start. My dad helped me get started and then I started taking pitching lessons. Playing in so many travel tournaments gave me the opportunity to get better. My parents, family, teammates and coaches have encouraged me to continue to get better. I know I will get the same encouragement from my coaches and teammates at VSU,” Harrison said.
She hopes to major in Elementary Education and become a teacher with her goal on the diamond being to make an immediate impact by helping VSU win the CIAA conference and to go far into the NCAA DII Softball tournament.
Harrison has also played volleyball, basketball, been in the marching band and on the varsity cheerleading squad during her time at AHS.
She is also a member of the National Honors Society, Beta Club and Educators Rising and is active in her church and participates in several service activities in the community.
