Trib HSSN softball player of the week for June 8, 2025

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, June 8, 2025 | 8:00 PM

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Trib HSSN softball player of the week: Lauren Howard

School: Hempfield

Class: Junior

Position: Second base

#Earned: four days after winning the second WPIAL championship in her three-year high school career, Lauren Howard and her Hempfield teammates went back to work in an effort to win the school’s fifth state championship and first since 2018. In the opening round onday at home against District 6 champion State College, Howard was 2 for 3 with an RBI as the Spartans held on to defeat the Little Lions, 2-1. In the quarterfinals Thursday against District 3 runner-up Chambersburg, Howard again delivered at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles as the Spartans held on for a victory over the Trojans, 4-3.

Background: Even though she still has another year left at Hempfield, Howard will continue her academic and softball career at Virginia. She has the nickname Lou, which developed when she once had a former travel ball teammate named Lauren, and to avoid confusion, they used her Mom’s nickname for her, Lu-Lu, which eventually became Lou. She has an older sister, Maggie, who just completed her freshman season at Georgetown. She wears No. 27 because that was the number of the jersey given to her when she filled in for an injured player on her sister’s team when she was younger. Howard is a member of the Hempfield girls volleyball team in the fall, and she does indoor track in the winter, including events such as the hurdles and the triple-jump. Her offensive stats are incredible this spring. She leads the Spartans in batting average (.657), on-base percentage (.688) and slugging percentage (1.17), stolen bases (20), hits (44), RBI (38), triples (6) and fielding percentage (1.000) and she is tied in home runs with Claire Mitchell (5). She is a true student of the game, saying she enjoys watching and scouting softball as much as playing. She would love to get a chance to vacation in Aruba. She loves fruit, with her top three being strawberries, grapes and apples. She prefers green grapes.

What coach says: “Lauren has been a constant threat at the plate this season,” coach Tina Madison said about Howard’s performance in Monday’s win. “She was able to come up for the team big in a very tight game.

“I was coaching third base and overheard their coach say, ‘Mman, she can hit’,” Madison said about the Chambersburg game. “It is nice to see her excelling outside of the WPIAL in very close state playoff games. She continues to be a staple for our team offensively.

“Lauren makes all of the routine plays and all of the non-routine plays. Sometimes it goes unnoticed because she is so consistent, however those who understand the game and watch enough softball know her flawlessness isn’t something that everyone has. Her soft hands and strong arm set her apart. She made a play to end the State College game that was not easy just look smooth and routine.

“I think she has grown a ton in confidence and pitch selection. She has really learned and watched how different pitchers are throwing and hits her pitch.

“Lauren’s love for the game shows through her play. She is confident with a high softball IQ that makes her a true leader on the field.”

2025 Trib HSSN Softball Players of the Week

Week 9: Marissa Snyder, Hampton

Week 8: Mia Pruehs, Union

Week 7: Bria Bosiljevac, Shaler

Week 6: Gianna Ferrieri, Seton LaSalle

Week 5: Emersyn Jones, Knoch

Week 4: Sydney Sekely, South Park

Week 3: Danica Trainer, Mt. Pleasant

Week 2: Bailey Barnyak, Carmichaels

Week 1: Toryn Fulton, Franklin Regional

Tags: Hempfield