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Every now and then you’ll come across a pair of twins who shine on the softball field and make a college coach’s life easier as the university gets two talented players in one recruiting swoop.
In the 2020 class, for example, we saw Arizona get in-state players Aris and Sophia Carroll while Georgetown picked up twins Stephanie and Katie Grissom.
Then there’s the Perren twins, Alex and Lauren Perren, from Hattiesburg, Mississippi who are a parent’s dream because, not only are they skilled athletes at Oak Grove High, they also put the “student” in “student-athlete” as both have committed to play for Yale Bulldog head coach Jen Goodwin.
We asked their mother, Lydia Perren, how proud she is of her two super-achieving daughters.
“It’s indescribable,” she began. These two are self-driven, they’ve worked their entire lives to achieve both academically and in softball and to see their literal dream come true is beyond amazing. They knew they wanted to attend a high academic college and they wanted to play softball.”
“What better place than the Ivy’s?” continues the twin’s mother. “They actually had two Ivy offers and chose Yale. I still have those moments where I stop and have to pinch myself because it just can’t be real. To have two academically and athletically talented daughters set this extremely lofty goal and achieve it is incredible!”
Alex is a catcher/outfielder and, according to Coach Justin Groves of their Impact Gold Premier – Holeman team, she is a “power-hitting left-handed catcher who can cover ground well in the outfield too.”
Alex hit .506 with a .560 on-base percentage at the high school level this year as a junior and had 33 RBIs. At the travel ball level, she batted .421 with a .500 on-base percentage.
“’AP’” is a tough kid who is 100 percent team first and one of the best kids to be around,” added Groves. “Coach Goodwin is getting an intelligent, kind, and true ballplayer in this one.”
Lauren, on the other hand, plays first base and shortstop while having similar numbers as her sister, batting .421 with a .500 on-base percentage as a junior with 32 RBIs. She stepped it up against club pitching, hitting .543 with an impressive .628 on-base percentage.
Both were honored as the local Sports 601.com’s Co-Players of the Year in 2019 and twice each has been invited to play in the Triple Crown Sports Nationals All-Star Games. Lauren was the MVP both years and according to Groves “was amazing in Colorado as she led the team to its 2nd place finish in Fireworks Open Division” hitting .868 with three doubles, a triple and three home runs.
“Lauren often impresses the coaches with her knowledge and stretching ability to make sure she gets that out at first,” Groves adds.
Yes, they’re certainly good between the lines, but how are they together as twins? Are they the types to finish each other’s sentences or are they polar opposites? We went to their mom for the scoop.
“They don’t argue or fight a lot,” Lydia Perren said, dispelling any concerns they might get on each other’s nerves too much. “They are 100 percent each other’s greatest supporter.”
In terms of how they’re alike, their mother says, “Both are kind-hearted, academically driven and respectful kids.”
But the differences… well, that’s where it gets fun.
*** Scroll down to learn more about the Terrific Twins and what one does that drives the other crazy!