Alyssa Southwood was a two-year starter at the varsity level as a seventh and eighth grader for Trigg County’s softball team. And then a series of events caused her to walk away from the sport and take up a new one where she has excelled.
Now, the Lady Wildcat senior is a vital member of the girls’ soccer team that’s off to its best start in 13 years. Known as Lou to those who know her best, Southwood grew up in travel softball and usually played at levels above her age. She made the transition to Trigg County’s varsity team where she batted .429 as a seventh grader in limited action.
As a full-time starting catcher in the eighth grade, she had 21 hits and 10 RBI for a team that put together one of the program’s most successful runs in school history.
But then things changed.
Quickly.
There was a coaching change. Then the 2020 spring sports season was canceled due to COVID-19. Southwood, who would have been a shoo-in for the All-District team, was left without games to play.
And then she just walked away from the sport.
She and her older sister Kara, who was an All-District softball player in 2019, went out for the soccer team where they both became starters and made an immediate impact on their new team.
As a sophomore starter, Southwood scored three goals for the Lady Wildcats in the first full season of her new sport. She followed that up last year with another strong season as a starter.
This fall, she’s one of three seniors on a team that is off to its best start since 2009. Alyssa admitted the transition from softball to soccer was tough at first but she feels has gotten more comfortable each year.
When she graduates high school, she hopes to become an occupational therapist.
