Log in Subscribe

Catching up with Katelynn

Posted

Purcell’s Katelynn Carwile is in the midst of a short break from softball and taking six hours of summer school in Stillwater.

The Cowgirls’ right fielder broke into the starting lineup near the beginning of this past softball season in the OSU-Texas A&M game and has been a mainstay for coach Kenny Gajewski since.

Carwile said she is going to take three weeks off from softball but will return to the hitting cages after the short siesta.

The best part of her collegiate softball career has been making it to the WCWS twice.

“Most people can’t say they’ve done that,” the OSU junior-to-be said his week. “It was a dream for me growing up to play on that type of stage.”

Time management has been the biggest transition from high school to college.

“Balancing time between classes, homework and traveling,” Carwile said is a huge adjustment.

“You have to stay on top of it,” she said.

Her best collegiate moment so far was defeating OU in the Big 12 Championship game.

“It was a history making game for us,” she confirmed.

Carwile will be one of five returning starters for the Cowgirls next season.

“Most of our starters were Super Seniors,” she said. “We will have 13 girls back but we have a big freshman class that is really talented.

“I’m anxious to see what we get from them,” she said. “I think it’s going to be a good year for us.”

Carwile made the decision to play at Oklahoma State when she was only in the eighth grade.

“It was crazy, honestly, when you are 13 or 14 years old and making a huge decision.

“My family was very supportive and made me stick to my decision,” she said. “Looking back, it was the best decision.”

“Coach Gajewski is an amazing coach. He cares for his players more than just as a player.

“I can go talk to him about anything anytime,” she said.

Currently Carwile lives alone in a house owned by her parents in Stillwater but catcher Taylor Tuck will soon be moving in.

“And, I think we are going to have an incoming transfer move in with us,” Carwile said.

The most difficult part of playing college sports is the competition level.

“Everyone is good,” she said. “You just have to make yourself one step above them to get to play.

“Last summer I hit every single day. During the school year I find time in between classes to go hit. I try to take a teammate with me so we can work on things together,” she said.

As a sophomore at Purcell, Carwile was on a State Championship team, playing for Sarah Jones.

Jones played college softball so her having had that experience abled her to help prepare Katelynn for her OSU experience.

The Cowgirls were 48-14 this past season ending at the WCWS with back-to-back losses to Texas.

Gajewski just finished his seventh season as head coach.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here