Noxapater softball coach Jodie Duran said she found out a couple of things about Lexi Thomas when she came out for softball as a seventh grader.
She discovered quickly that Thomas was super smart and a very hard worker. She also learned that Thomas wanted to play college softball and loved Auburn University.
After six years of playing varsity softball for Duran, Thomas is about to take care of one of her life-long ambitions. Thomas recently agreed to play softball at Coastal Alabama Community College North in Monroeville. Thomas will be a walk-on for the program but will be receiving a full academic scholarship. Thomas made a 27 on her ACT, was valedictorian of her graduating class, and Star Student.
“She has always wanted to play college softball,” Duran said. “Ever since she came out for softball in seventh grade, she told me she wanted play college softball. She’s had this walk-on opportunity for a while and finally decided that’s what she wanted to do.”
Thomas said she is familiar with the college and campus.
“I have an aunt who lives there and went to a camp there the summer of my junior year,” Thomas said. “I really liked the campus and the coaches. I just kept up communications and they offered me a walk-on spot in December. I pretty much knew that was what I was going to do. There was really no other choice. I’ll be able to go to Auburn and not have to pay out-of-state tuition after I’m done at Coastal Alabama.”
Duran said it also gets Thomas closer to another one of her dreams.
“They are huge Auburn fans and she has always wanted to go to college there,” Duran said. “This gets her closer to that. She has family down there so it’s not like she will be all by herself. Her family is big Auburn fans and that’s where her heart is. This just gets her closer to Auburn. She is a top-notch student and works has hard in the classroom as she does on the field.”
Duran said Thomas was easily one of the hardest workers she has ever coached.
“When she came out in seventh grade, she wasn’t one of those kids that you said was super athletic and was going to be really good,” Duran said. “But she made up for it by working hard every day. She worked really hard on refining her craft on the mound. She developed five different pitches and threw all winter long getting ready for the season.”
Thomas pitched the majority of innings for the Lady Tigers the last season and has been a three-year starter for the Lady Tigers.
“She pitched for me and I’m sure that’s what she is going to do there,” Duran said. “She is a very smart kid who has worked really hard to play college softball. I’m really proud for her.”
