MADISON- The devotion of one day becoming a student-athlete for the Auburn Tigers began early in the life of Aubrie Lisenby as she was named after the Auburn mascot Aubie The Tiger. Her reverence toward her father’s ties to the university as a graduate of the school continued through her remarkable verbal commitment to the SEC softball program just after her completion of the eighth grade.

Today, going into her senior season as a returning two-time All-State starting catcher for the Bob Jones Lady Patriots, Lisenby, like the remainder of her teammates, endured an early end of her junior season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She quickly rejoined the Birmingham Thunderbolts organization for her tenth year of play with the elite program and helped the 18U team to the USA 18U Gold National Championship held at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla. site of the NCAA Woman’s College Softball World Series.

“We were halfway through our season and we really began to jell and began to beat some big teams from across the country,” said Lisenby. “We knew we could win it all.”

The Thunderbolts 18U Premier Team, made up of players mostly from Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Virginia, made their way to the Nationals after winning the Atlanta Legacy Showcase Tournament, which is regarded as one of the top three tourneys in the United States. The 18-player roster played 26 games in 12 days and the season came to a close by defeating the Texas Hot Shots two out of three games in the National Championship. Lisenby said she had several key RBI hits and several throw outs from her position as catcher. She added, “I think I did very well in Oklahoma.”

Lisenby, who carries a 4.43 grade point average into her senior year and wants to study pre-med with specialties in biology and chemistry once at Auburn, is a five-year starter on varsity, including her eighth and ninth grade years at Randolph High, and nearly saw her junior season go totally into submission after suffering a broken right wrist. She played through her injury and had nine homeruns in 40 at bats, led the team in slugging (1.071) and RBIs (20) before the coronavirus stopped the schedule mid-season. She’ll enter her 2021 season tied for most homeruns in the program’s history.

“I grew up in an Auburn atmosphere and visiting the campus I saw it was very nice and seemed to be athlete oriented,” said Lisenby, daughter to Mike and Monica Lisenby. “I made my commitment early and plan on signing this year during National Signing Day.”

She began playing softball at age six where she was a middle infielder. Once turning to the 8U age group she was asked to play catcher and that’s where she’s been ever since taking to the position with dedication and determination. Her talents include having a good arm that is very quick on getting the ball out. She can throw with velocity from both kneeling and standing. She blocks the ball extremely well and takes pride in as being versatile as possible behind the plate.

Her talents have been noticed by those near and far.

Lisenby is currently ranked the No. 5 catcher in the country and as high as the 22^nd best player in all of the United States by Fastpitch Network and Extrainnings Fastpitch. She gives thanks to her two personal coaches- Casey Myers in Auburn who helps with catching and Lincoln Martin, hitting coach located in Atlanta. “Plus, the Thunderbolts organization shows lots of support, as well,” added the 5-foot-7, 140-pound athlete.

The talented student-athlete was born with small labrums in each of her shoulders causing her shoulders to pop out of socket. In the summer of 2018, she had her left shoulder repaired through surgery while her right shoulder endured the stress and assisted in keeping the talented Patriot on the field.

“I’m a big power hitter at the plate and like to put power behind the ball and drive in runs,” added Lisenby. “As for the national rankings, it’s an honor to be seen in that way after all of my hard work. It’s awesome others see my skills.”

Her sights are now set on her senior season next spring and then making her way to Auburn and should the Tigers make their way to the College Softball World Series in Oklahoma, Lisenby will be one of an elite few to have had the experience at that location of winning a National Championship.