Newcomer Spotlight: Haven Roebuck

AUBURN, Ala. - As the Malveaux era enters its second season on the Plains, a bevy of newcomers will wear the Orange and Blue at Jane B. Moore Field for the first time. Throughout the fall, we’ll introduce the 13 fresh faces joining the program.

A true freshman from Winterville, North Carolina, Haven Roebuck comes to the Plains as a highly decorated infielder. Roebuck was a two-time conference player of the year and earned All-State honors in 2024. She finished in the top 16 in the state of North Carolina in multiple statistical categories, including ranking 10th in total home runs (11).

 

Q: How old were you when you started playing softball? What are your earliest memories of the sport?

Roebuck: I was six years old. I was playing at my local park. It was just rec ball, but I just remember playing with some of my best friends that I have now.

 

Q: What drew you to Auburn?

Roebuck: It was really just the atmosphere. I had gone on other visits, but I  committed a little late in my process. I went on visits and people were like, ‘you’ll just feel it, and you’ll know when you go to a college.’ I had gone and I was like this is great and all (on the other visits), but I just don’t see myself here. Then I came to Auburn. I loved Chris and Kate (Malveaux) at Tennessee, but I didn’t like Tennessee. Then they came here and saw the environment. I was walking and no one was rude, ever. People were so kind. You don’t get this where I’m from, or like in general, people don’t act like this. I did get the feeling. I felt at home.

 

Q: Who has influenced your softball career the most?

Roebuck: I would say my parents. I’ve seen other players' parents in the past, and their parents were kind of harder on them. My parents let me do what I did, and they didn’t push me to want it. They didn’t make me do anything. I was the one who had to show up and had to do it for myself. My grandparents were at every game that they could possibly be at. It got hard, There were times where I did know if I wanted to do this anymore. They said it was up to me. That made me realize that I did want to do this

Q: What has been the highlight of your softball career so far?

Roebuck:  I would say being able to be blessed with Auburn. Pretty much everybody committed before I did. I was telling myself that if I hadn’t committed with that last month, I was just going to stop. I wanted a big school environment, and I hadn’t gotten that. When Chris (Malveuax) reached out to me, it was like wow. Everything has just fallen into place with it. I did want to keep doing this. It makes me feel really grateful to be here.

 

Q: Are there any former athletes that you try to model your game after?

Roebuck: I love Bri Ellis. She shows herself. She’s not a robot. She shows her hardships, but she also shows her humor in the game. I am very much of a ‘I play because I am having fun.' She showed that when she was playing for Arkansas. That just gives me courage that it’s not that serious. Nothing is ever that serious.

 

Q: What’s one word to describe yourself on the field and one word to describe yourself off the field?

Roebuck: On the field, I try to be intense, but in a way to be a light around everyone. I try to be a leader, but also nonchalant when stuff happens. Off the field, I would say that I am just humorous. I’m just having fun. I get locked in. I could flip a switch when I’m playing. I still have fun, but I can make it on a more serious level. I don’t know a word for that though... happily competitive.

 

Q: What HAS to be on your pregame playlist?

Roebuck: Oh wow, that’s hard. I love country music, but sometimes I have to lock in with hype music. I love Even Flow by Pearl Jam, or Kashmir by Led Zeppelin

 

Q: If you could eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Roebuck: Buttered chicken with garlic naan. That would my last meal. If I could have that for the rest of my life, I would.

 

Q: If you were stranded on an island for a year, which teammates would you want with you?

Roebuck: I would bring my roomate, Ava (Ratliff). Probably Delaney (Aumua) because she would have the most logic about what we should do. Then I would bring T (Thalia Martin). She’s just hilarious, and she would keep light of the situation.

Q: Do you have any game day superstitions or routines you can’t break?

Roebuck: I have a bow on my cleat. I've had it since I was probably 14. My friend gave it to me. Her grandma had cancer, and we wore the bow. I literally have had it with four pairs of cleats. Every time I get new cleats, I just put the bow on the new cleats. This pink bow is now orange, but I wear that. I don’t really have a superstition.”

 

Q: What part of your game are you most proud of improving since joining Auburn?

Roebuck: I would probably go with the mental aspect of it. You can always be a leader. Sometimes in travel ball, you get wrapped up in the independent part of the game and not being a teammate. When you’re here, you’re with a team. You’re playing with people that actually want to be there. It makes you want to lift them up and want them to keep going. I think that has gotten a lot better. I seriously love being around all of them.

 

Q: How do you stay motivated when practice or games don’t go your way?

Roebuck: I really just turn to my faith. I usually just pray about it. I have had a few rough hitting days since being here. It’s so stressful,  but coach Chris (Malveaux) has told me, ‘you have to just keep pushing and it will come your way.' Remembering that I am just one person in a small world. My problem is not a world problem. That has actually helped me a lot. This is just a baby thing that is happening in the world right now.

 

Q: If your team had a reality TV show, who would be the star?

Roebuck: Probably McKaela (Walker), Ma’Nia (Womack) and T (Thalia Martin). They’re hilarious together. It would be them three and Kyla (Stroud). 

 

Q: If you could give a message to the Auburn Family about the upcoming season, what would it be?

Roebuck: I think that, no matter what, it’s going to be our team energy and faith that brings us through this season. You can’t fully rely on skill, and we can move mountains with the faith that we have on this team.

 

Q: What’s your go-to pregame snack or drink?

Roebuck: I have sometimes gotten a strawberry açaí refresher with lemonade. I typically eat a sub before a game. In high school, that’s all I did. I'd eat a turkey and provolone sub before every game or switch between grilled nuggets at Chick-Fil-A. Those two were my go to.