Columbus East second baseman Kaylee Cole throws to first against Columbus North at Columbus East, Monday, April 19, 2021. Paige Grider for The Republic
Kaylee Cole had played in Bowling Green, Ohio, with her Indiana Gators-Craft 18U travel softball team, so when it came time to look for a college, Bowling Green State University was at the top of her list.
The Columbus East junior took a campus visit this fall and liked it so well she opted not to take any other college visits. She verbally committed on Monday to play at Bowling Green.
“Because I’m only a junior, Division-I coaches weren’t allowed to talk to me until Sept. 1,” Cole said. “When Sept. 1 came, they called, and we set up a visit there and absolutely loved it. Right when I got there, it was a gorgeous campus. I knew I’d love it and that it would be one of my top options. It felt so much like home. That one set such a high standard, I didn’t think any other college would compete with that.”
Cole wants to major in physical therapy or exercise science while playing for the Falcons, who are in the Mid-American Conference.
“I’ve wanted to play college softball ever since I could play softball and heard you could play softball in college,” Cole said. “That’s been my goal ever since.”
After her freshman season was canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Cole was the starting center fielder for most of her sophomore season with the Olympians.
“She has all the measurables,” East coach Rusty Brummett said. “She’s a lefty slapper. She has a good arm, a Divison-I arm, and she’s very quick and she’s a good, hard worker. She works hard on all of her skills.”
Cole batted .234 with three doubles, two triples, 13 RBIs and 11 runs scored for East last spring.
“She had a pretty solid season for us,” Brummett said. “She was a sophomore, so she still has some learning to do. We have a couple more years to watch her grow in the program.”
Cole’s goals for the 2022 season include beating defending sectional and regional champion Columbus North, finishing in the top half of the Hoosier Hills Conference getting better at every aspect of the game as a team.
“We definitely need to put in some extra work for this year, but I feel this year will be a lot better,” Cole said.
