Vicksburg native Kayleigh Karel decides to hang up her softball cleats after a standout sophomore season

VICKSBURG, Miss.(VDN) — Vicksburg native and East Central Community College softball standout Kayleigh Karel has officially decided to hang up her cleats and focus on her future as a full-time student.

Karel, who recently completed a strong sophomore season, said she wanted to go out on a high note.

“I ended on a good season, and that was my goal going into my sophomore year,” Karel said. “I already had a feeling that this would be my last season, so I wanted it to be the best I played so far.”

Her freshman year was a learning experience, with limited playing time as she backed up one of the team’s top centerfielders.

“The centerfielder we had at the time was probably one of our best players, so it just wasn’t my time,” she said. “That was God telling me that my freshman year was meant to be about growth.”

Karel used that offseason to train hard, focusing on speed, agility, and hitting. Her dedication paid off. In February, she went 5-for-6 at the plate with two doubles, two RBIs, one stolen base and a run scored against Marion Military Institute. She finished the season with 30 hits, 10 doubles, one triple, a .300 batting average, and an .896 fielding percentage.

Though she made many memories on the field—like a game-saving catch in the gravel against Jones College—Karel said it was the friendships and coaching relationships that meant the most.

“The friendships that I made there will always be the best times, and I love my coaches,” she said.

Karel played under Head Coach Leigh White and Assistant Coach Brooke Fagan at ECCC, and starred at Warren Central under Head Coach Dana McGivney. Though she received a softball offer from Delta State, Karel will instead attend Mississippi State University, where she will major in kinesiology and pursue a career in physical therapy.

When asked for her parting words, Karel smiled and said simply: “I’m a Dawg.”