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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
FeaturedSoftball

Senior softball player pitches her way across the state

Guest Author

Since high school she has always let her pitching do the talking.

Kylee Polsley grew up eight hours east of Chadron in Omaha, and during her final two years of high school attended Omaha Skutt. While at Skutt, she garnered attention on some impressive high school teams. In her junior year, the Skyhawks finished runner-up at state and her senior season in 2009, they finished fourth with Polsley earning All-Nebraska recognition.

“Omaha Skutt put my name out there,” Polsley said.  “That program and team enabled me to be recognized.”

Polsley’s pitching caught the eye of Iowa Western, an athletically renowned junior college.

“It was Iowa Western from the start. I knew that they were a powerhouse, with the tradition, their facilities and their coaching staff I was drawn in right away,” she said.

Polsley shined on the mound in her two years at Iowa Western. She had a career record of 43-8 and in her final year had an ERA of 2.31, while striking out 144 batters.

Following her stint at Iowa Western, Polsley was looking to attend a college where she could continue her athletic career. It was then that Iowa Western’s head coach, Lana Ross, approached coach Rob Stack about Polsley.

“Coach Stack really trusted coach Ross’ opinion, because he never even saw me throw a pitch,” Polsley said. “He just knew my stats.”

Kylee Polsley, senior of Omaha, sits in the dugout with teammates and watches a teammate bat during the games Sunday at the softball field.—Photo by Teri Robinson
Kylee Polsley, senior of Omaha, sits in the dugout with teammates and watches a teammate bat during the games Sunday at the softball field.—Photo by Teri Robinson

Stack proceeded to call Polsley after his discussion with Ross, to let her know CSC was interested.

Within a week Polsley took a visit, and fell in love with Chadron State the minute she stepped on campus.

“Everything seemed right,” she said. “The campus was beautiful, and the plains were great. Also, coach Stack was a family oriented coach, which was really big for me.”

As a pitcher coming to Chadron State, she knew her ability would be tested in the RMAC.

Polsley was well accustomed to facing stiff competition; however, the RMAC is a hitter-dominant league, so she knew the competition would be tougher.

“I knew coming into this type of conference, I would have to prepare for every hitter I faced,” Polsley said. “In junior college, I typically faced the best batters at the beginning of the order, but now I have to prepare to face good hitters throughout the entire order.”

She has prepared well.

In her first year as an Eagle she excelled on the mound. She maintained a 4.15 ERA while pitching 82 innings, and compiling three shutouts, the second most in school history. However, the Eagles failed to make the RMAC postseason tournament.

Now, well into Polsley’s senior season the Eagles’ are sitting seventh in the RMAC standings with an 11-7 record, and 11 conference games remaining. She knew coming into the season the Eagles’ could make the tournament and succeed in conference play.

“We are capable of anything,” said Polsley.

With already 80 innings pitched, Polsley has collected eight wins, while holding opposing batters to a .310 average. She has 62 strikeouts and only 26 walks.

She believes that with the senior leadership, coupled with the team’s all-around ability, the Eagles can make the RMAC tournament.

“The seniors are all positive leaders and believe in each other. We have high expectations, and making the tournament is the ultimate goal,” she said.