“Coming from a team who is like my family, we love the seniors very much and we are going to give our all for them,” says Kyra Lockhart, one of the top 2017 prospects in the country and a name you’ll be hearing a lot about over the next few years.

In her latest blog for StudentSportsSoftball.com, the Alabama commit talks about the seniors on her club team who not only lead by example but serve as role models to the younger players.

We first met Kyra, a first baseman with the Jersey Intensity, this fall at a Surf City showcase and were not only impressed with her powerful stroke on the field, but her personality and energy off of it.  When she said she loves to write, we knew she’d be another great blog writer for StudentSportsSoftball.com!

Click here to read Kyra’s earlier blogs and those from our other standout players!

Also, check out our video interview of Kyra done in early October.

 

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Jersey Intensity had a great summer ball season and made it all the way to the No. “10” team in the country.

However this fall season, Intensity lost some key seniors.

Eight players began their college journey and we had to rebuild.  We were hit heavy, but great girls came in to keep the Intensity tradition going. This was not an easy task, but Coach Kevin (O’Donnell) made it work by bringing in the best and most competitive girls in the country.

The first couple weeks of our Fall were not our best. However we pieced it together and gelled very quickly. After two weeks we were playing at a very high level.

We beat several of the best teams from around the country and by the end of the Fall we had a strong record.

As the season came to an end the Intensity Family took time to recognize and congratulate the great seniors who had signed their NLI’s. Ally Frei (Boston College), Alyssa VanDerveer (Penn State), Annie Murphy (Boston College), and Bailey Bigler (Notre Dame) are the seniors who will be leaving after summer ball.

All of the seniors have strong roles and carry us as a team. Not only that but they have been role models to me. They show me how to be a leader, better person and are the people I call my best friends. Without them, we would have not had the great Fall we had!

When they leave, once again we will have to rebuild. But for now all of us have our mind on one thing: winning the PGF National Championship!

As we go into Winter workouts we are keeping our eye on our one goal.

The talent we have is great and our work ethic is awesome. With snow and cold weather we are still working hard weekly. Our practices are never easy but they prepare us for the moment we are all waiting for: the week-long moment in California that will make or break us.

Last year in Nationals, Intensity had a great run and every player left it all on the field. This year it is our time. We will work harder than ever to prepare for it.

Since I am an underclassman, I know how much the girls who will still be here after next year want to do this for the seniors. We want to keep them on that field, on that stage and in that moment for as long as we can.

And what better way to end your career than with winning a championship?

Coming from a team who is like my family, we love the seniors very much and we are going to give our all for them. But for now we are appreciating and valuing the time we have left with not only our teammates, but our sisters.

Wishing my Intensity Family and everyone a Happy Holidays!

—Kyra