Laney Tucker came from North Carolina to see UK play softball in Lexington and got to talk to her favorite player, shortstop Erin Coffel. (Photo by Greg Tucker)
Ten-year-old Laney Tucker of Red Cross, N.C., plays travel softball for the Carolina Elite Organization in Lexington, N.C., but she has become a Kentucky softball fan with sophomore shortstop Erin Coffel as her favorite player.
She made the trip with her family to watch Kentucky play Missouri last weekend — the game UK lost 13-0 — and is already trying to get her parents to take her to Columbia, S.C., for a game as a birthday present when UK plays there May 6-9.
Her family travels about an hour to get her to softball practice so she can play on this team. She has been playing for Elite since she was 6 and mainly plays second base and shortstop but says she can also play anywhere in the outfield. She’s learning how to pitch and is a left-handed slap hitter.
She’s also very outgoing and took time to hand write answers to these questions I sent her about her UK softball experience — and was even allowed to stay up past her bedtime to do so.
Pay attention to how UK softball coach Rachel Lawson didn’t delay her players from interacting with fans after the game despite UK losing 13-0 and what that meant to Tucker.
Question: How did you become a Kentucky softball fan living in North Carolina?
Laney Tucker: “I became a Kentucky softball fan when my family and I went to Tennessee last year to see a Tennessee vs. Kentucky softball game. It was my birthday present.”
Question: What made you and your family decide to come to see UK play Missouri?
Laney Tucker: “My family planned a road trip for spring break vacation. I wanted to see a UK game in Lexington, so we planned our trip around the game on Saturday.”
Question: What is there you like so much about Erin Coffel?
Laney Tucker: “At the game in Tennessee last year she was super nice to me after the game. I play shortstop like Erin and hope to be as good as she is one day. We’ve tweeted to each other a couple of times. I liked watching her on Team USA (last summer) helping her team win the game in the World Cup.”
Question: As a young player, do you consider the UK players as role models and do you like that win or lose they sign autographs, take pictures and talk with young fans after games?
Laney Tucker: “Absolutely. They are great role models and leaders and prove it every time they step on the field. I was a little bit worried that after having a bad game they may stay in the locker room. My family was ready to wait in the parking lot so I could see Erin but we didn’t have to. It was so cool that all of the players and coaches came out to see us with big smiles and great attitudes. It was like they had just beaten Missouri 13-0. Coach Lawson told me they are great players but they are better people and she is right.”
Question: What do you like about coach Rachel Lawson? Have you been to her camp before and will you be at her camp this summer?
Laney Tucker: “Coach Lawson was also very nice to me. She is a great leader and coach. Every time I’ve heard her talk on TV she is always calm and cool no matter if she is winning or losing. I would love to attend a UK camp. We’ll see if we can make it work once the dates are listed.”
Question: Do you let yourself dream of playing for Kentucky and how cool would that be?
Laney Tucker: “Yes my dream is to be an Olympic softball player and playing at UK would be a great start to my dream. I plan to keep working at softball to play in college.”
