RESERVE — Family, friends, and current and future teammates surrounded Alexus “Lexi” Johnson of Riverside Academy Friday afternoon as she signed her Letter of Intent to play softball at Southeastern Louisiana University.

Lexi has been committed to play for the SLU Lions since she was in eighth grade, according to her mother, Pebbles Johnson. She has started on varsity for the Rebels since seventh grade and has been named to her school’s all-district team for all five years.

Lexi has also been featured on prestigious all-metro and all-state teams for the past four years. For the past two seasons, she has been named MVP for hitting on the all-metro list.

She will make school history this spring if she makes all-metro and all-state for the fifth year in a row. While battling a torn labrum last season, Lexi led her team with a top batting average of .709 and 17 homeruns. She was also a candidate for the Gatorade Player of the Year.

Softball was not the only sport Lexi mastered at Riverside Academy. She previously played basketball and continues to compete in volleyball, soccer and track.

On top of sports, Lexi maintains a 3.8 GPA with honors and collegiate dual enrollment classes. She helps coach a 10-year-old slugger team outside of school and offers pitching and batting lessons after practice, which often keeps her busy until 9 to 10 p.m. on weekdays and weekends. Yet, she still finds time to be a teenager and spend time with friends.

RA softball coach Tamra Regalo said Lexi has been a consistent role model to the younger girls on the team. Regalo said Lexi has come out of her shell over the years, and she is thrilled to see her go on to play for her college alma mater.

Lexi was drawn to Southeastern because of its family atmosphere, especially when it comes to the future teammates that encourage her not only on the field, but also in her spiritual life. She hopes to continue building her hitting skills at Southeastern.