Malden seniors Lexi Campbell & Lana Reed sign to play softball at Three Rivers College

Malden seniors Lexi Campbell and Lana Reed have been a dynamic duo at the plate and in the field since they stepped on a softball diamond.

“Throughout the years I’ve loved having Lana as my catcher,” Campbell said. “If someone gets on first I know we are going to get them out if they are stealing. Me and Lana have always shared that responsibility up the middle.

“I’ve also always batted second because I hit for average instead of power,” Campbell continued. “I’ve always relied on Lana to drive me in with a home run when I get on first. We’ve just always been a duo throughout the years and I’ve loved playing softball with her.”

Photo by Dustin Ward, staff
Malden seniors Lana Reed and Lexi Campbell signed to play softball at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff Tuesday. Pictured at the signing front row left to right are: Lana Reed and Lexi Campbell; pictured back row left to right are: Three Rivers head softball coach Jeff Null and Three Rivers assistant softball coach Jason Gwin.

The dynamic duo will have the opportunity to continue to play together after high school.

Campbell and Reed both signed to play softball at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff Tuesday.

“We have played together since we were 10,” Reed said. “It’s going to be real fun to continue that in college. Plus it will give me someone to talk to.”

Both players have played on the infield and batted at the top of the order most of their high school careers. Campbell has played shortstop and served as the leadoff or No. 2 hitter for Malden. Reed has been the primary catcher and batted No. 3 for the Green Wave.

“Both of them are very versatile kids that can play anywhere on the field,” Three Rivers head softball coach Jeff Null said. “They are also two very good sticks offensively. I think both of them will be able to help our lineup right away. They’ve both played on travel teams already, so they’ve had the opportunity to face the type of competition we face. They are just two great fits for our program and we are very lucky to get these two.”

Both girls acknowledge Three Rivers is also the right fit for them.

“I love how coach Null coaches,” Campbell said. “I’m also really familiar with Three Rivers and Poplar Bluff so it feels like another home to me. I just feel really safe going there and the program is really good. There are also a lot of people going there that I know that I’ve had the opportunity to play against. I will also get to play with Lana for at least two more years and we’ve played with each other since we were 10-years-old.

Reed added: “It’s local and it’s a good school.”

Both girls have put up strong offensive numbers on a Malden squad that has enjoyed its fair share of success in recent years.

Reed hit a team-high 11 home runs her junior season.

Campbell batted over .480 her junior season and took home the Batting Average Award at Malden.

“Once I got to know these girls I could tell they were automatic team leaders,” Malden softball coach Angela Rodgers said. “Watching them grow over the last three years has been crazy. They have matured with their skills and become even better leaders. It’s really awesome to see how far they have come. I’m really proud of them and think they will do great things moving forward.”

Reed and Campbell have had the luxury of playing for a Malden program that has won three consecutive district titles.

“I can’t really name one memory that stands out,” Reed said. “I’m just glad that I’ve got to play on good teams all four years. It’s been great.”

The Green Wave also advanced to the Class 1 spring final four for the first time in school history in 2016.

“We’ve always been like family,” Campbell said. “Our softball team is different than any other team I’ve been on because we’ve always been close and fight for each other. Our chemistry got us to state two years ago for the first time ever.”

Reed and Campbell have been standout players in multiple sports at Malden

Reed is a starting middle hitter on her volleyball squad and starting forward on her basketball squad, but identifies softball as her favorite sport.

“It’s just the sport I’ve played the longest,” she said. “I’ve just learned to love the sport more than the others.”

Campbell was recently named 2017 Bootheel Conference Volleyball Player of the Year but also labeled softball as her No. 1 sport.

“I’ve played softball since I was super young,” she said. “I’ve traveled all over and played as far away as Florida. I’ve just always had this love for softball. It came a lot easier to me than any other sport. I love volleyball as well, but I’d rather spend all my time playing softball because I love it more.”

Reed and Campbell are part of a large Three Rivers recruiting class featuring several Missouri talents.

“We have signed four kids that were selected first-team all-state in Class 1 and a couple more that were selected second-team all-state,” Null said. "Most of them are from the area. We do have one from Canada and one from Oklahoma City. We’ve got 10 kids coming in total this year and are a roster of 20. We go outside the area and get a piece here and there but there is enough talent in southeast Missouri and northeast Arkansas that most of the time that’s where 90 percent of our kids come from.”

Campbell said she plans on working toward becoming an optometrist at Three Rivers College. She expressed thanks to everyone that has helped her make it to the collegiate level.

“I want to thank my dad more than anyone,” Campbell said. “My dad has helped me more than anyone over the years. Not only has he been my biggest supporter, he’s been my coach on many travel teams. That’s who I go to for anything regarding softball and I don’t know where I would be without him. He has literally driven me all over the country to softball tournaments and practiced my butt off.

“Secondly, I want to thank my mom,” Campbell continued. “She’s been there with my dad taking me all over and getting me any kind of sports equipment I needed.

“I also want to thank the Malden coaches because they always believed in us no matter what,” Campbell added. “I also would like to thank Trey Rone and Billy Cook for doing so much for me and teaching me the fundamentals that have made me the player I am today, and Joe Hendrix for being a great travel ball coach.”

Reed said she plans on working toward a degree in elementary education at Three Rivers.

“I like working with kids and want to help them because they will eventually be the leaders of our country,” she said.

Reed also expressed thanks to those who have helped her along the way.

“I’d like to thank my mom, dad, and all of our coaches, with a big shout out to Brian Campbell, Trey Rone and Bill Cook,” she said.