Van Buren senior softball outfielder Ivey Perkins proud of team success

There’s definitely a huge source of pride as far as Ivey Perkins is concerned. Though she is only one of two seniors on Van Buren’s softball roster, Perkins has a great deal of admiration in seeing her younger teammates flourish.

The Lady Pointers are in the upper half of the 6A-West Conference standings – having won at least six league games – with postseason play fast approaching.

“As a team, I’m super proud of my girls and how hard they’ve worked,” Perkins said. “Everyone thought we were going to lose every game and be easy to beat this year because we’re young, but I think we’ve came really far and made people change their minds.”

Having seen action since her freshman season, Perkins is a three-year starter for the Lady Pointers, playing left field. Perkins believes her defense is her strongest asset.

“I know I have a great glove in the outfield and I trust that when the ball gets hit to me, I will try my hardest to get the out,” she said. “Offense has never been my strongest quality, but I try my best and make it work.”

That was one of the priorities Perkins had entering her senior season, improve her hitting abilities. As a sophomore, she batted left-handed and specialized in slap-hitting the ball, which Perkins admitted she did a pretty good job of doing, before eventually switching to bat from the right side of the plate. But it is guiding her younger teammates that really has left an impression on the senior.

“It is one of my most important jobs as a senior,” Perkins said. “They’re all young and I try my best to steer them in the right direction and help them out always in and out of softball. They are like my sisters and I would stop at nothing to make them better.”

Plus, she has enjoyed playing under the Lady Pointers’ longtime coach, Andy Williams.

“The best thing about playing for Coach Williams is that he isn’t too serious,” Perkins said. “He lets us have fun and be annoying, which is one of our favorite things to do. Can we goof around too much? Yes, most definitely, but he always knows how to bring us back into reality. He holds us accountable and he trusts us. We are super lucky to have a coach like him.”

Perkins said her favorite memory as a Lady Pointer was as a sophomore, when they took two games at home against Greenwood, arguably the standard bearer in the 6A-West over the years.

“That was by far the best most interesting games I’ve ever played in my life,” she said. “The energy and the vibe that night was amazing and I wouldn’t change a single thing about it.”

Perkins grew up in a family that plays a variety of sports. However, she didn’t take to playing softball until middle school. After she finished her freshman year at Van Buren, Perkins concentrated solely on softball. She’ll get to continue playing that sport, having committed to play at Williams Baptist University, located in Walnut Ridge, Ark.

While at Williams Baptist, Perkins plans to major in biology with hopes of eventually becoming a veterinarian.

“I have a 3.5 GPA and have always been on top of my work,” she said. “I don’t take any (advanced placement) classes, but I do try and push myself in honors, and I am a part of the Arkansas Scholars (program).”

With her final days approaching as a Lady Pointer, Perkins wants to continue making sure her younger teammates pick up the torch once she and fellow senior, Jocelyn Parga, graduate.

“My final mindset is to finish as a role model,” Perkins said. “I want my girls to look up to me and think only positive things about me.”