By Don Trello
The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent
Academy at the Lakes senior Lauren Evans will reap the benefit of her dedication to hard work and softball in a big way next month.
Evans, who is 16, will compete as a member of the British National 19-and-under team in the International Softball Federation Junior Women’s World Championship X set for July 1 through 7 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.
“It’s a whole new level of softball,” said Evans, who is the AATL shortstop. “You basically play against Olympians if the Olympics had softball. I’m definitely nervous because I have something to prove to my coaches, especially (University of South Florida) coach (Ken) Eriksen.”
Evans, who led AATL in hitting with a .610 average this season, has a .595 career batting average and is verbally committed to USF.
“Coach Eriksen got email from the British National Team and recommended me at the end of this school year,” said Evans, who has dual United States and British citizenship. “Rachel Watkeys, the British coach, called me about a tryout.”
Evans and her father made a six-hour drive to the Higher Ground softball training facility in Tifton, Ga. for her tryout.
Former British National Team coach Bobby Simpson is the founder of Higher Ground, and he supervised Evans’ workout.
“We did it indoors because it was raining, and it lasted about one hour,” said Evans. “He watched me hit off a tee and against live pitching. I also took ground balls and did skill work.
“He said he was impressed with me and would give his best word to coach Watkeys. She called me after the tryout and wanted me for both the U-19 team and the older team, but I decided to stick with just U-19 since this was my first year of international competition.”
Evans expects to play first base, third base and maybe some outfield in the tournament.
“I have a strong verbal commitment to USF and will sign during (the upcoming school year),” Evans said. “I like first base best, and that’s what I will be playing at USF.”
The journey to international competition started for Evans when she was a young girl.
“My dad asked me to pick a sport and stick with it,” Evans recalled. “I chose softball over basketball and soccer. I began playing in Little League, and I started travel ball in 10-and-under.”
Evans is playing for Team North Florida, coached by Kevin Maguire, since the high school season ended. She credits Maguire for helping her develop into a top softball player.
“I’ve known coach Kevin since I was 10,” Evans said. “I’ve practiced with him my whole life, and he’s basically the reason I am what I am.”
Evans’ hectic schedule doesn’t allow much time for activities other than school and softball.
“I go to Atlanta for a tournament about one week after Canada, then come back for the ASA national tournament in Clearwater before leaving for Huntington Beach, Calif. for the PGF Premier tournament,” Evans said. “This is what my summer consists of since I got to the 14-and-under level.
“The British National team sent me a workout schedule for strength training, and I practice every day in my garage and go to coach Kevin’s to hit in a batting cage and take ground balls,” she added. “I also recently started CrossFit training one hour per day.”
AATL athletic director Tom Haslam has the highest praise for Evans, who has a 3.8 grade point average on a nonweighted scale, as a student-athlete and quality individual.
“I’ve been around high school kids for 29 years,” Haslam said. “Lauren is the best I’ve seen if you look at the total package of athleticism, work ethic and mental aspect combined.
“She understands the science of hitting, plus she’s gifted with strength and speed. She gets about one or two hittable pitches per game, but will not swing at a bad pitch. She’s a student of the game.”
Haslam indicated that Evans has earned the respect of students, teachers and coaches alike with her unassuming manner.
“You would never know she is a great athlete if you’ve never seen her play,” said Haslam. “She has no ego. If you build a prototypical athlete, it would be her. Lauren has it all.”
Evans leaves for Canada on June 26 to start training with her new teammates in preparation for the world championship tournament.
“I stay with the team in a hotel, and we do everything together,” Evans said. “I’ll only see my parents and my grandmother, who is coming over from England, after games.
“It’s going to be interesting playing with girls I don’t know. There’s a pitcher named Erica Nunn, who was a freshman at USF this past year, on the team, but I don’t know her. I’m very excited. This will be a new challenge that will test my ability.”
