ORLANDO SENTINEL: College Connection
By: Bill Buchalter
Rollins softball coach Michelle
Frew has seen few hitters as dedicated as Hailee
Keisling.
Frew calls Keisling the best pure hitter she has worked with "as
far as mechanics go. She works on it all the time. She works for
her teammates more than for herself."
Keisling is batting .354 (35-of-99) with one home run, 10 RBIs
and 28 runs scored for the Tars (24-6-1, 7-2 Sunshine State
Conference), who are scheduled to host Nova Southeastern (11-25,
1-14) for a game at 7 Friday night and a doubleheader at 1 p.m.
Saturday.
Keisling began her youth softball career as a "slapper,'' a
hitter who utilizes a swing that is between a bunt and a full
follow-through. The natural right-hander has become a powerful
left-handed swinger, batting. 400 with three homers, 30 RBIs and a
.593 slugging percentage last season.
Keisling was an All-SSC second-team choice in 2015, one year
after she homered in her first collegiate at-bat and was chosen the
conference's Freshman of the Year.
The first baseman overcame a slump to begin this season.
"I had started strong the past two years, but after the first
couple weeks of play, I just didn't feel comfortable in the
[batter's] box,'' Keisling said. "I continued to work through it at
practice and on my own to start getting my swing back. It really
clicked for me when we started playing conference, because these
games are so important to win.
"Working hard at practice and having my teammates push really
helped me to get back into things."
Keisling was chosen the SSC's player of the week two weeks ago.
Teammate Chelsea
Reed, an outfielder from Lake Mary, earned that honor
this week.
"You can always count on Hailee,'' Frew said. "She's very
reliable."
