If Mary Kathryn “M.K.” Bonamy ever needs a pep talk or someone to boost her confidence, she won’t have far to look.

Her high school coach, CJ Hawkins at Spain Park High in Hoover, Ala., says without hesitation: “M.K. should be ranked in the top 25 players in the country. She will be a big catch by a big, big school.”

“Will be a big catch” is the key as it may be news to many in the college world that the power-hitting corner infielder is back on the market after recently decommitting from North Carolina.

“I have other schools interested in me,” she explains diplomatically, “but I have not made a choice as to where I will be going to. And, no sir, there isn’t a timeline right now in making my decision.”

Any college coach looking to get some pop in the lineup might want to look very closely at M.K. who led the state with 19 home runs along with 65 RBI, 24 doubles and a .911 slugging percentage that helped the Jaguars compile a 49-17 record.

Her honors included MaxPreps Underclass All-American, NFCA 1^st Team All-Region, Super All-State, 1^st Team All-State, 6A Hitter of the Year and the Birmingham Metro Player of the Year.

Going into her final year of high school, Mary Kathryn has 34 career home runs and also showed a Babe Ruthian ability to rise to the challenge when needed at PGF Nationals this summer when playing for Jersey Intensity.

Head Coach Kevin O’Donnell sent out a text on July 29, the night before a big game simply saying, “Greatness is achieved when we meet or exceed expectations.”

“I sent that out to challenge the team, but especially MK,” the coach explained. “I knew we’d need her to step up in a big moment.”

No one could know, however, that the occasion would arise the next day.

Trailing the Firecrackers DFW-Poole team 1-0 in the top of the 7^th, Bonamy came to the plate with two runners on and the team needing a big play. In an earlier at-bat she whiffed at an unhittable change-up, but in this plate appearance she was ready.

“That first pitch was another change-up,” she recounted, “but I laid off of it.

The next pitch was a rise ball and MK didn’t miss this one.

“I knew on the second pitch I was swinging and was fortunate to have gotten under it.”

The blast was a three-run homer and was typical of her ability to connect in big games. In three state tournament games, for example, the Alabama standout—who has 34 career home runs with a year left to go—had four bombs.

Her athleticism comes naturally as her father, David, was a wide receiver for the Univ. of Alabama from 1988 to 1992.

“My Dad is my go-to guy mentally,” she shares. “And Corey Myers, now an assistant coach at Auburn, really helped me as my hitting coach.”

Carrying a 3.9 GPA, MK says simply, “I want to go to a good school academically and one with a good softball program.”

The senior, who started school last Thursday, says she also wants to work on being more consistent on the field.

“My goal over the next year is to improve my hitting and all-around athleticism,” she explains, “and to develop into a better, more complete softball player.”

“I just want to become the player I want to be.”