Bethaney Keen's softball run ends with Florida State University at College World Series

Bethaney Keen’s softball journey ended where she thought it would.

But most things that workout are well worth it, and looking back Keen would not have changed much.

Keen went to softball camps at Florida State University in Tallahassee as an eighth-grader and ended her career playing in the Women’s College World Series with the Seminoles.

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There were some bumps and detours along the way.

The Braden River High graduate reflected on her journey.

Dream school

It just took a little longer than expected.

Since she began attending camps at Florida State, Keen dubbed the Seminoles her “dream school.”

But out of Braden River High, the University of South Florida was “a better fit for me and my family at the time.”

After five years with the Bulls, Keen had three goals: “At the time I wanted to be happy, I wanted to challenge myself, and I wanted to compete for a National Championship.”

Prior to the 2022 school year, she put her name in the transfer portal as a graduate transfer with the idea of earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Keen understood the risks.

“When you put your name in the transfer portal, there is a possibility you might not get picked up somewhere you want to go,” she said.

Taking two visits, Keen went to the University of Florida in Gainesville and Florida State.

“UF didn’t work out. FSU reached out for me,” she said. “I’m so glad they wanted me and I chose them to end my career.”

But as one door was opening another was closing.

“It’s hard. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” Keen said. “Putting the name in, making those hard conversations, leaving some of my best friends behind. It just worked out.”

Eventually, it worked out.

Her first season with the Seminoles in 2022 was cut short after 13 games because of an injury. Keen received a medical redshirt, the second of her career along with a COVID year.

Florida State did not make it out of the regionals that year.

This past season, Keen was part of a Seminoles’ team that reached the College World Series, where it was swept in the best-of-3 series by Oklahoma.

“To come back, to make it to the final game, as high as you can go at the elite level, you take a step back. Everything really lined up for me the way it needed to be.

“It wasn’t ideal, but it’s a pretty cool journey. Most people don’t get to say they played seven years at the collegiate level. It was only four years competitively because I got hurt and stuff. Getting that chance to be around the game, being around the team camaraderie. It makes it so hard to leave something like that because it truly is special.

“It was a full-circle moment for me.”

The big stage

Stepping onto the field at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium for the first time was a little overwhelming for Keen, when she looked around.

“People can watch it. People can dream of it. Until you step on that field and see over 13,000 people staring right back at you, nothing can really exemplify what that means," she said. “Going in there for the first time with those people and the last time on the field, you have to take a step back, look around and soak it all in. Wow, you’re actually on that stage. All these people are here watching you. And not just here but on television. It’s like a dream come true."

It was a dream come true for Keen.

“Every girl who plays softball wants to be on that stage," she said. "Looking back five years ago, there was always hope to be on that stage, but in the journey I had and with all the schools and stuff I went through, you never really thought I would be on that stage."

Doing it with a new team and in front of family members and friends was even more enjoyable.

“So fortunate that it worked out the way it needed to be," Keen said. "The team was amazing. It was everything I dreamt of. We really started playing well as a team. We did it together and that was the fun part."

Shining moment

The signature moment in Keen’s career came in the Super Regional Final against Tennessee.

Batting eighth in the lineup, the left-handed hitting first baseman led off the top of the third in a 1-1 game.

Keen put a charge into a 1-1 pitch, sending it over the wall in right-center field.

“The moment it came off my bat, I knew it felt really good,” she said. “You just kind of know the sound and the feel off the bat. I just wanted to turn to my Coach TK (Troy Cameron) and my teammates when I hit it.

“Yeah, it was the first home run of the season for me, but they knew how much it meant and the amount of effort and work I put in. To get that opportunity and to capitalize on that opportunity.”

Batting .247 at the time, it was her first round-tripper since homering against Memphis on May 13, 2021, as a member of South Florida.

After the Super Regionals, Keen and Cameron spent time in the batting cages working on specific things.

“Troy Cameron gave me some solo advice,” Keen said. “Those moments are so cool. He told me the moments are so cool for you, but they make me so proud as a coach, because we see the work we put in.”

It turned out to be the final hit of her collegiate career.

“You hear the announcers. You hear everyone say the unsung hero. So they didn’t expect it,” Keen said.

She knew differently.

“Everyone who knew me and saw the work knew I was very much capable of doing it,” Keen said. “It was just setting the opportunity you get.

“Maybe it wasn’t the best year. But practicing in the batting cages after the Super Regionals and the very specific things I needed and wanted to do for that last week, nothing else mattered for me personally.”

Her mother Tracey got the home run ball. Keen’s phone blew up with text messages and calls from family members, siblings, former players and others.

“My family is going to remember that for the rest of their lives,” Keen said. They were beyond excited for me. It was a very emotional, fulfilling, dream-come-true moment for me personally, but to get that to go to a championship game as a team, you couldn’t really write it up.”

Beginning at USF

The 5-foot-6 Keen burst onto the scene with the Bulls. She was an All-American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team selection as a freshman, led USF with seven multi-RBI games, 14 extra-base hits, 412 putouts and was second with 64 total bases.

Ironically, Keen’s first career collegiate hit was a two-run, walk-off home run against Illinois State in USF’s 2017 season opener.

“In the recruiting process USF was at that time in my life a better fit for me and my family,” she said. “That’s why I chose USF. USF wanted me from the very beginning. I’m so thankful for the people I met there. So thankful for (Coach) Ken Erickson to give me that opportunity to learn and thrive at USF. Spent five years there.”

Keen’s second season was wiped out by an injury. She bounced back to hit .282 with four home runs and 37 runs batted in in 2019, batted .288 in the COVID 2020 season and .299 in 2021, her redshirt senior season.

“Then you do some self reflecting. What do I want? How do I grow more?” Keen said. “So thankful for my experience there. I don’t know if I would change it.”

High school and AAU

Keen learned from two of the area’s finest coaches in high school and in travel ball.

She played for Braden River High, then coached by current Parrish Community coach Erin Spivey.

During her senior year in 2016, the Pirates went 24-3 and reached the Class 7A State Semifinal where they lost to eventual champion Gainesville. Keen batted .564 with 13 doubles, seven triples, four home runs, 36 runs batted in and 41 runs scored.

“She offered me to come back to work her camp,” Keen said of Spivey. “Braden River, you look back at the time of high school. That was fun.”

Keen also had fun and success heading into her senior year.

Playing for the Tampa Mustangs-TJ, coached by former Lakewood Ranch High coach T.J. Goelz,

Keen was on the 16U team that won the Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) Nationals.

“I loved travel ball more than anything, but high school you played for your high school and I had half of my travel ball team at Braden River, so those times were fun,” Keen said. “I’m honored to be coached by both of them. I loved playing for her (Spivey). I wouldn’t be the player I am now without his (Goelz’s) knowledge, mentorship and guidance.”

Winning an AAU title, playing in the FHSAA State Final 4 and reaching the Women’s College World Series made Keen reflect.

“It’s pretty cool looking back,” she said. “I made it to some pretty cool places. I don’t want that to go unnoticed. It came to an end, but it was a really good journey.

“I made to the biggest stage in all three places. I’m really truly grateful for me to getting that opportunity.”

What’s next?

Earlier this week, Keen was in Orlando, visiting Disney World and playing Putt-Putt golf at PopStroke with members of her family.

“Enjoying it,” she said. “Trying to figure out what to do next. Knowing I don’t have softball to go back to, it’s sad. I miss it. I’m going to miss all the camaraderie and all the competition stuff that goes with it. But I get to do stuff with my family.”

In July, the 25-year-old Keen will begin working as a Junior General Account Manager at A-LIGN, A Cyber Security Auditing Company in Tampa.

“I’m really excited for it,” she said. “I’ve met my boss. I have a good team. I’m putting my MBA to use.”

Trading her softball teams for a work team will not be the same for Keen.

“I know I have a lot of life ahead of me, but it’s just kind of navigating and managing what to do with more of my spare time which I have now,” she said. “There’s a lot to look forward to, but there’s a lot that I’m going to miss.”

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Bethaney Keen's softball run ends with FSU at College World Series