Lauren Gibson...  

Five-tool player: hits, throws,  

fields and thinks says coach


University of Tennessee 's clean up hitter Lauren Gibson, Pasadena, Md, has 12 home runs and 42 walks in 148 at-bats with a .994 fielding percentage.

The following is the beginning of a much longer story by Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News Sentinel and posted online at Go Vols Xtra.

Lauren Gibson

“Lauren Gibson comes across as the proverbial 'girl next door' with her simple, easy-going way, clean appearance and dainty smile.

“But put the Tennessee junior second baseman on the softball field, and her smile vanishes, her eyes sharpen and her muscles grow tense. 

 “'This is serious business to her, and there's no screwing around when she puts on the spikes,' said Ken Eriksen, who as coach of Team USA last summer batted Gibson third in the order of a squad recognized as the best in the world.



“'Lauren is the epitome of a ballplayer,' Eriksen said. 'She comes to play every day, she loves to practice, and those things lend themselves to long-term success.'

“Gibson has been at the heart of No. 5 Tennessee's 17-game win streak...”

CLICK HERE for the full story.