Genoa softball's Kaylin Shields little engine on track to Wheeling University

Kaylin Shields will never relinquish the chip on her shoulder.

The Genoa senior won't ever stop trying to play big. That's why she plays big, and continues her softball career at Division II Wheeling University in West Virginia.

At 5-feet, 3-inches tall, she isn't big. She doesn't pretend not to think about being diminutive, but what of it?

"Yeah, that's a big thing, trying to get recruited and I'm at camps and I'm the smallest one," she said. "I had to try to find ways to stand out. I'm not the same speed [pitching], but I have better movement. Playing big is big for me.

"The only way I'd get recognized is if I was always putting in maximum effort and playing bigger than I am."

Thinking obviously isn't worrying for Shields. That stopped when she no-hit Columbus Lasers for Ohio Hawks during travel ball before her junior season.

"I knew I was capable," she said.

She also knows expectations and estimations sometimes correspond according to height. At least there's a scale of sorts.

"Pitchers my age are 5-10, at least," she said. "Successful pitchers are taller. I get overlooked because of my height. That's a big thing to overcome and prove not only tall pitchers are good. I put in the work and I proved I can do what they do."

Sometimes she does more. She was first a catcher, before shifting to pitcher because it's more interesting.

She plays middle infield and Hawks coach and father Ken Shields even put her in the outfield last weekend for the first time in a game in her career.

She's a student of the game, more than her position that day.

She coaches pitching and hitting lessons for ages 7-14 at Oak Harbor All Elite Sports Complex.

Shields has 566 strikeouts in her career, with only one season as the full-time starter. She had 297 strikeouts and walked 37 last season in 153 innings.

Her ERA was 1.42 and opponents batted .165. She was pitcher of the year in the Northern Buckeye Conference.

Shana Szypka had 758 strikeouts in her career.

"She was a great pitcher for Genoa," Shields said. "I'd love to have that role for Genoa."

The Comets (15-11, 10-6) lost 3-1 to Eastwood in a district semifinal last season. Shields occupies a key spot for Genoa, but there's less pressure, most of which she generated, knowing where she's headed after the Comets.

"It's nice," she said. "I can lay back a little bit and not be stressed. The first few years trying to get recruited I was stressed. I just have to keep [Pelegreen] updated. I'd love to take Genoa further than district. That would be big for the school.

"Maybe get a few more girls out. With travel ball, keep working to get to the level I need to be at for college."

Wheeling's timing was perfect for Shields. She attracted some early interest that didn't follow through.

Wheeling reached out and felt right, including the physical therapy program. Most of the students at Wheeling participate in a sport.

"The coach there was hired in January," she said of Sara Pelegreen. "Two months later, I committed. I'm her first recruit for that class. Coach said I could be a game changer. There were 16 in [the last class]. She has to start fresh.

"To start as a freshman, that would be big. She was super welcoming. She wanted me there and she proved she wanted me there. I loved campus. It's not too big, not too small. Not too close, not too far."

Shields is relentless.

"My coach Scott Hall call me a bulldog," she said. "He tells me to "bulldog this moment." 'Even though you're small, you're strong enough to get through this.'"

She plays big by making diving plays at second base and shutting down bunts or snaring balls returned her way in the circle. She led Genoa batting .473 last season.

"That's the play bigger than you are thing," she said.

Being small is largely all in your head. Shields doesn't have to be tall to reach high.

"I always try to play big," she said.

mhorn@gannett.com

419-307-4892

Twitter: @MatthewHornNH

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Genoa softball pitcher Kaylin Shields not one-dimensional on defense