Mason softball's Kamryn Loeffler's dream comes true with signing with Angelo State
After years of playing softball locally in Mason and traveling across Texas for select teams, Kamryn Loeffler felt burned out after her freshman year of high school from the sport she played since she was eight years old. This summer, though, she returned to select softball in pursuit of her dream of being a collegiate athlete. She played on team Texas Glory based out of McKinney — roughly a five-hour drive from Mason — and after a strong season she started to receive attention from colleges.
One of the college programs to reach out was Angelo State University. ASU softball coach Travis Scott watched Loeffler at a tournament and invited her to visit the campus and practice with the team.
"The moment I stepped on the campus, it just immediately felt like home," Loeffler said. "I just felt this peace over me, and I fell in love with the coaches and the girls as well...everything just immediately felt right...And then after my first visit, I committed."
Loeffler made her commitment official by signing a national letter of intent to play for Angelo State on Friday at a signing party in the Mason High School Gym.
Loeffler will follow in both of her parent's footsteps but in slightly different ways. Her mom, Kathy Loeffler, is an Angelo State alumnus but confessed she did not believe it impacted Loeffler's decision to attend Angelo State. Her dad, Brett Loeffler, played baseball at the University of Texas from 1995-1998 and helped grow her love for softball at an early age.
Her parents, though, hoped that they passed down more than similarities in academics or athletics.
"The one thing that we've tried to instill in Kamryn is that when we show up, we show up to be the best we can be," Kathy Loeffler said. "...When she does something, she goes 100%. She commits and she's going to be the best that she can be for herself and for her teammates, she realizes that it takes extra time and extra effort."
For Loeffler, the commitment and extra effort paid off. After three years in varsity, she has 107 hits, 133 runs, 106 stolen bases, a .515 batting average and a. 608 on-base percentage — all school records. As a track athlete, Loeffler was a part of the Mason 1,600-meter relay team that broke school and regional records on its way to a Class 2A state championship last year.
"She's been very blessed, but at the same time, she's very driven", Brett Loeffler said. "She's got an amazing schedule, and I'd like to think that us as a family being her support system helped her along in the process, but I would put most of that on her."
Loeffler's dedication earned her a reputation during her freshman year. She often gathered teammates together for extra practice and earned the nickname 'Mamma Kam' from upperclassmen.
"She stepped in as a freshman and was lead off (hitter)," Mason coach Billy Todd said. "She's always been a leader, maybe not as vocal as a freshman, but she's always been one of the main ones... I didn't have to do a whole lot of coaching for her, I wish I had a lot of kids like her (she) makes coaching easier."
After a one-season hiatus from the playoffs, the Mason softball team looks to get its name back in the hunt with Loeffler helping to lead the way in her senior season.
"I'm super excited for our team this year and I think we're going to do well," Loeffler said. "But I'm also trying to create a culture with my teammates this year and also pave the way for all the girls who come up after me."
This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: HS sports: Mason softball's Loeffler signs to play with Angelo State
