Kaitlyn Van De Hey '21 Recruiting Profile

I began playing softball at age five,when I started t-ball.  My coach at the time was in high school and her sister played college softball.  We would discuss her games while she helped me with fielding and batting drills.  I knew from that moment forward that I wanted to be just like my coache's sister.  My coach always told me, "Katie,work hard and your dreams can come true."   I have also had the privilege to work with our high school softball coach from age six to current day on my batting and out fielding skills.  He may push us hard, but it is so worth the outcome when you catch an amazing out to win the game.  He always stressed to us that good grades and softball go hand in hand, so I remember crying when I struggled to read.  My mom and dad told me that if I could learn to read, I could play travel ball.  I knew I could do it, I just had to push myself more.  I set goals every year to get all A's in school. If I find something challenging me, I have learned to as for help right away, because by waiting you are only hurting yourself by get lower grades.  I love knowing that I can continue to play what I am passionate about while I work on getting my degree in college.

 I started travel ball as a catcher, but while I was a catcher I was also learning to pitch.  I feel I have an advantage knowing both positions because I know how much they communicate and work together.  At this time I also played club basketball for two years to work on agility for softball.  After two years, I decided that if I wanted to be a better pitcher, I had to practice more.  My biggest challenge in softball so far was the year I fractured my growth plate in my pitching shoulder,  hitting a fence, while going after a ball in the outfield.  I pitched a second game after getting hurt because at the time, I only thought I scraped a finger and my chest.  After two months of physical therapy and determination to get my strength back, I was back to pitching.  It did not take long to get back in the groove.  If anything, my injury helped my teammates learn the importance of communication and how it can impact whether you win or lose a game.