Austin High softball pitcher named to Junior USA team

Austin senior Kelsie White is a star pitcher for the softball team, but she is more than just that. At just 17 years old, White earned not only a full-ride scholarship to play at New Mexico State, but was also named as 1 of the 11 players on the Junior USA team.

“My dream is coming true,” White said. “This is really happening. All of my hard work, my sweat, my dad and my coaches, like what am I going to do with my life? I need to follow through with everything else so I can be more successful.”

White has 900 strikeouts as a pitcher from her freshman year in high school to now her ongoing senior year. Just 7 games into the season, White has already thrown more than 200 strikes in 7 games.

“I just know practice takes a lot of work,” White said. “Just need to be dedicated, and I want to make it big and make my parents proud especially with all of the money we put into the sport.”

While White’s coach in Antonio Zavala said he thinks she makes a great example for the younger talent around her.

“It is something that everyone else will look bad and remember what she did for us,” Zavala said. “I have seen it from the younger ones, and they look up to her talent and it makes them want to emulate that.”

A lifelong dream that is already coming true before her very eyes.

“My dream was to actually play for Team USA ever since I saw Jennie Finch,” White said. “She was my main inspiration along with schools, teachers and everyone, they just kept telling me don’t give up, you got this.”

And now White along with 10 other players, will head to Australia late June to take part in the International tour, before taking the diamond for the Aggies next season.