Novans’ Peloquin eyes future beyond softball
Woonsocket senior thinking about next step at UMass
WOONSOCKET – To set the scene, Lauren Peloquin had been studying in her bedroom at her Mill City home during the early afternoon hours of Thursday, April 23 when she heard a knock on the door.
She turned, and saw her mom, Paula, standing there with a serious look on her face.
“She told me that school would remain online for the rest of the year, and that would mean all spring sports would be canceled,” the Woonsocket star senior center fielder and aptain explained recently. “I’ll never forget that moment in my life; I was devastated. It was something I had been looking forward to my entire career.
“I was seven when I started playing softball, and it’s definitely my primary sport,” she added. “Softball was something that I had worked hard at; I wanted to be a good player in the eyes of others, but I also know it’s something to enjoy with people I care about and like to spend time with. In high school, I was playing with a number of girls I grew up with.
“It’s sad to know I won’t be getting a senior season, but I have to say that there are still so many other exciting things I have to look forward to.”
There, that’s the rub. There aren’t many other seniors out there who seem to have such a positive attitude about such an emotionally-crushing occurrence in their young life, but – apparently – that’s what sets Peloquin apart: Maturity.
“She’s a natural leader, very level-headed and talented,” said coach Dan Belisle, who piloted his Villa Novans last year to a 9-7 mark in Division II-Sullivan League and a playoff berth. “Lauren was lined up to either lead off or hit third for us because of her speed. She’s a career .300 hitter, had a high on-base percentage and was an excellent base runner, so I thought she had a really good chance to make All-Division first team for the first time.
“I was expecting some really big things from her this season,” she continued. “She’s had a really good career so far, and I thought she was going to take a major step forward this spring. Unfortunately, that all came crashing down with coronavirus.”
As for the thrilling things Peloquin is setting her eyes on, perhaps the top of the list is committing to the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. She will not play softball, but has decided to major in Business Management and Marketing.
“I’m so excited about that; there are going to be so many things I can do to branch out as a person,” she said. “There are new people to meet, new events to attend; it’ll be the start to the rest of my life. As the high school chapter of my life closes, the college chapter begins, and I can’t wait.
“I thought about going to Bryant (University), but that was a little too close to home. I want to get away and grow on my own. I decided I didn’t want to play softball because I wanted to focus on academics at a school I think I’m going to love.”
That shouldn’t be a problem for Peloquin, who has earned her fair share of scholastic laurels while at WHS, among them inclusion into the Rhode Island and National honor societies with a GPA well over 90.
“I chose business management because I want to be a powerful and independent businesswoman someday,” she said proudly.
As for the elephant in the room, she claims she hasn’t forgotten the disappointment of the lack of a campaign, wearing a brand new uniform or playing at a new home, Cass Park.
“My individual goals were to keep working hard and improving my collective game,” noted Peloquin, as a junior an All-Division third-team selection. “For me, I wasn’t thinking about any individual title or recognition, but instead just having a good time, playing with my teammates and trying to lead my team when I could do so. I was looking at all of us getting better together.
“We made the playoffs last year but lost (to Scituate, 10-0); I also knew we were losing a couple of key seniors from that team, and those were devastating losses because they were our captains and our leaders,” she continued. “But I also believe that the girls who were going to be seniors this year (Peloquin, Hannah Moyen, Maddie Thibodeau, Mia Plasse and Julia Beech) had all embraced the fact we needed to fill those shoes and help the team improve.
“Absolutely, we were working hard to make the playoffs, then try to win and see what happens game by game … Now, what do I miss most? Just being out there and playing with my teammates, enjoying the game. I’ve always been naturally competitive, and that’s helped me thrive in a softball, athletic and academic setting.”
If she regrets anything, she says, it’s not becoming more involved in more sports at Woonsocket. She played volleyball as a freshman and did indoor track as a sophomore, but that’s about it. Softball was her favorite, and she stuck by it.
She’s also busy trying to make some money for college. She had been working two jobs at the Wrentham Outlets, but those obviously disappeared when businesses shut down for the same reasons school (and softball) did.
Being an industrious young woman, however, she hitched on with a South Attleboro grocery store chain as a cashier and bagger – and is working with her younger sister and sophomore, Hailey.
“It’s like I’ve transferred my energy from softball to other things, other interests,” she stated. “I feel like there’s still so much to be proud of and so much to look forward to. Yes, it’s a devastating time, but there’s more on the horizon.”