Centralia alum inducted into Fairfield University Athletics Hall of Fame

After a stellar collegiate softball career at Fairfield University, Centralia alum Lauren (Liseth) Dumoulin earned the school’s highest honor by being inducted into the Fairfield University Athletics Hall of Fame in a ceremony earlier this year.

In four years in Connecticut, the former Tiger played at shortstop and behind the plate, and she earned all-conference honors all four seasons.

After being named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Rookie of the Year in 2011, she later was named the MAAC Player of the Year in 2013, the same year she was named Fairfield’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

In that season, Dumoulin hit .389 with seven home runs and 37 runs batted in, and she also drew 55 walks in 50 games.

She was named an Academic All-American three times, and she was a two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region Team honoree.

Across Dumoulin’s four seasons, she hit 24 home runs, which tied the school record, and she ranks second in school history with 124 runs batted in. She’s Fairfield’s all-time leader in total bases (324) and ranks second in both triples (14) and walks (108).

Prior to heading to Fairfield, Dumoulin, then Lauren Liseth, played varsity softball at Centralia for four years. She set school records in multiple offensive categories, including home runs, RBI, hits, and stolen bases.

She hit 20 home runs across her high school career, including nine in her senior season, a spring that she also hit .415. In that year’s district tournament, she hit three home runs in a victory over Tumwater, a win that clinched Centralia’s spot in the state tournament.

The Tigers made state all four years Dumoulin played, including the state title game in 2007. Dumoulin earned All-EvCo honors all four years, including two EvCo MVP awards. She was also a two-time first-team All-State selection.

Dumoulin and the other honorees were recognized and inducted into the Fairfield Hall of Fame at a ceremony in February.

Dumoulin gave thanks to several people who she said helped propel her forward in her softball career, including her parents, Norm and Julie Liseth, her former high school coach, Ken Olson, and her college coach, Julie Brzezinski.

“(Olson) helped develop my swing from the time I could hold a bat,” Dumoulin said. “He always believed in me and was in my corner every minute of every inning, even when I was on the other side of the country. 

“My parents supported me with so much love, patience, and inspiration,” she continued. “They spent countless hours in the batting cage or on the bleacher in the rain helping me chase my dreams. (Brzezinski) saw my potential and encouraged me to rise to the occasion every day.”

Dumoulin also gave thanks to everyone she met while at Fairfield, including her husband Sebastian, and she also thanked her daughters, Darcy and Stella, saying she “hopes they find as much joy in sports as I have over the years.”

Dumoulin also gave a nod to Adna alum Jesskia-Jo (Sandrini) Tatum, who also played in the MAAC at Siena University (then Siena College). Tatum was inducted into Siena’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2023.

“It was a blast to play against a friend from home and to cheer on each other’s successes despite our MAAC rivalry,” Dumoulin said.