Emily Lauer ready to lead Farwell softball program

by BEN MURPHY

Cleaver Sports Writer

When the varsity softball head coaching job opened up at Farwell this off-season, Emily Lauer didn’t even really have to think twice; she knew this was a role she wanted. So, when she was officially hired last month, it just cemented the fact that this was where she belonged.

“It means the world to me to be chosen for this spot,” she said. “I hesitate to call it a job because it’s more than that to me. This team is special with my seven seniors having played together most of their lives. I’m excited to be a part of their last season here, hopefully sending them off with memorable moments from this season with each other one last time.”

Lauer is no stranger to the game of softball and no stranger to the Farwell softball program. She played softball at Riverview High School in Florida, where she played four years on varsity and was a member of a state championship team. She also played high level travel softball and went on to receive a full ride scholarship at the University of Georgia.

Most recently she has served as the junior varsity coach at Farwell for the last five seasons.

“I was hired Feb. 5 and so far, so good,” Lauer who works at the elementary as a special education parapro said. “It might be a little better if we could play outside, but we’re rolling with the punches. I was hoping the job would become open when this group of girls were seniors. I coached most of them their freshmen and sophomore seasons on JV and was hoping to be the one to send them off into the next chapter of their lives. This should be a fun season and we’re looking forward to it.”

The fact that she knows this group of girls and that they know her should be helpful for Lauer as she gets going as the head of the program.

“I would say I’m a fun coach, but the girls know when it’s time to get serious,” she said. “I’m not one who’s gonna yell at them or make them feel bad when they make a mistake, as mistakes are how we learn. I don’t want them to be afraid to play and make mistakes because fear of the mistake only leads to more. I want to pass my love and passion for this game to all of my athletes as softball meant so much to me when I was young. I think it’ll make the transition from JV to varsity a little smoother for the girls I’ve already coached. They know exactly what to expect when they move up.”

The coach added her thoughts on where she would like to see the program, both in the short term and the long term.

“Short term goals are take it one play at a time and one game at a time,” Lauer said. “Everyone wants to win championships, but sometimes when you look too far ahead you lose site of the task at hand. I try to live in the present and just take things moment to moment. Long term goals for the program are to build it back up, as it seems harder and harder to find student athletes. I want the program to just keep getting bigger and bigger. Obviously, if we can win some big games at the end of the season that would be great too.”

There’s just one problem, the fact that the winter weather doesn’t seem to be wanting to let go of its grip anytime soon. For now, though, they’ll have to settle on getting their work done indoors.

“Hopefully we can practice outside, I’m not sure when that will happen due to weather but we are having as much fun as we can with what it is we have to work with,” Lauer said. “I hope the girls take it all in and enjoy every moment they possibly can whether we’re inside or outside practicing.”

The coach finished things off with a few thank yous; taking note of many that have helped her get to this point.

“I’d first like to thank my parents, without them taking the time and money out for my tournaments and all the travel I wouldn’t have been able to do the things that I have done,” Lauer said. “They always told me, ‘if it’s not fun don’t do it’. Words I still live by today. I would also like to thank Zak Spryszak, our athletic director, and the school board for having faith in me to do this job. I’d like to thank Mike Bell and Bryce Vanbuskirk for the amazing work they do and all the help they provide to myself and the team. It’ll be special to have them do this with me as their daughters are seniors on the team and those guys are who all the girls started with. Village of Farwell please come out and support these amazing girls as seven girls on the team are seniors. Show them how great our town can be at showing up for each other.”

© Clare County Cleaver