Kailey Schinstock took the best of a bad situation, and parlayed that into a chance to continue her dream.
The Iola High senior signed a commitment letter Monday to continue her schooling — and her softball career — at Allen Community College.
She was honored at a signing ceremony in front of her family and friends, Fillies teammates, as well as with her teammates and coaches with the Kansas Sluggers, her traveling softball team.
“I’ve wanted to go there since I was 5 years old,” Schinstock said afterward. “I just love the coaches and the program.”
The daughter of Corey and Laura Schinstock is an honor student, sporting a 3.71 GPA, which allows her to attend Allen on an academic scholarship. She’s undecided on a course of study.
Fillies head softball coach Chris Weide lauded Schinstock’s dedication to the sport and her leadership on and off the diamond.
He noted she continued to practice through the spring, even after the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out what would have been her junior season — and what would have provided her first extensive period in the starting lineup.
“Our roster was pretty loaded” when Schinstock was a freshmen and sophomore, Weide noted. “But I have no doubt she would have started all 20 games for us last year.”
Weide noted Schinstock’s skills all around, both as a solid hitter, and as a slick-fielding first baseman. “She does a little bit of everything,” he said.
Undeterred by the lost season, Schinstock continued to spend time in the batting cages and working on fielding drills.
Schinstock noted that even without her high school season, she still had a full summer and fall with the Sluggers.
