LG Goldin Keeps it Fun but Focused
LG Goldin’s Great Freshman Season
Buford’s perfect season was not just about experience and senior leadership. It was also about a freshman who refused to play like one.
Everywhere you look, whether in college or high school, there are freshmen who play key roles and make immediate impacts on softball teams. What stands out even more is when they help their teams win a championship.
Last week, I had the chance to speak with LG Goldin of the Buford Wolves softball program. Goldin is one of those freshmen who made an immediate impact.
The Wolves went a perfect 36-0 and captured the GHSA Class 6A State Championship in dominating fashion. Right in the middle of it all was Goldin, and in the championship game she recorded six RBIs, including her walk-off three-run home run to seal the deal.
“It felt amazing, just carrying my team home to the state title. It was really fun,” said Goldin.
In our conversation, Goldin was quick to mention the sadness she felt because of the amazing group of seniors who are moving on. It is a family bond she had grown used to. When asked about that experience of playing with such great people, she said, “It was a little nerve racking, but I also grew up with them because of my older sister, Janie. They were really good at leading all the underclassmen who were playing.”
Goldin said that her strong freshman season came down to one key word that many players forget, fun. That is the only way she plays well, and it reinforces the message to always enjoy the game. Even in moments of pressure, remembering that it is still a game keeps her in the right mindset.
Goldin looks up to the older players around her, and she does not have to go far to find inspiration. Her sister, Janie Goldin, a 2027 Oklahoma State Cowgirl commit and her Buford teammate, has been there for her every step of the way.
“She’s great to be around. She always helps me when I’m feeling down or struggling, and she’s just always there for me,” said Goldin.
LG has another year to play with her sister and other great teammates. This Buford team, as mentioned from the start, was one to watch this season. They finished with a perfect record that included 23 shutouts, and only a couple of games were even close. The Wolves outscored their opponents 381 to 27 and did not allow a single run in 10 games throughout the entire month of October.
“It’s been amazing. We had a great team that worked really hard, and we just pushed through together,” she said.
With the experience of winning at such a high level now under her belt, this motivates Goldin for the next three years she has left at Buford. More magical runs could be on the way.
“It makes me want to work really hard to keep that expectation up for my next three years at Buford and to lead people who weren’t in the program. I want to show them the way we practice, play, and do every little thing,” said Goldin.
With her mind already on leading the next wave of players, Goldin spoke highly of the coaching staff and their motivation. The Wolves fell short in 2024 and did not want to feel that again.
“It’s a really good coaching staff. Last year, the team fell short in the championship game, and throughout the year, Coach reminded everyone how that felt. We worked harder and pushed toward our goal of winning the state title. They focus on defense and really emphasize the little things.”
I always like to see who young players look up to, and LG mentioned two people. One is her teammate and Florida commit, Caroline Stanton, who was dominant all season for the Wolves. Stanton also helped lead the U.S. Junior Women’s National Team to the World Cup in Oklahoma City. Goldin says she enjoys watching her pitch.
The other is someone I had the opportunity to watch closely at Florida State, Devyn Flaherty, now an assistant coach at Florida Gulf Coast University. Flaherty always played with focus and intensity, something that caught LG’s attention.
“Just the way she played, with determination and effort. She always gave everything she had,” said Goldin.
Now that softball season is wrapped up, it is on to the next sport for Goldin, where she plays multiple positions. Watch out for the Buford Wolves on the hardwood.
“I think our team is going to be really good. We work really hard, and I’m excited,” she said.
Whether on the softball field or the hardwood, LG Goldin plays with the same drive and joy that helped Buford reach perfection, and her story is just getting started.
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