TARBORO —
Tarboro Vikings senior softball slugger Kailyn Abrams had decided to take her talents to the next level and play college softball at NCAA Division III William Peace University in Raleigh.
Abrams has been instrumental in trying to get the Vikings softball team to the level where they can compete with others in the conference. She has been a leader for Tarboro during her four year career and has led the team in almost every offensive category possible.
"Kailyn hates to lose," Tarboro head coach Riley Hurdle said. "She does whatever it takes to try and win."
Abrams has a great eye when she is a the plate hitting. She struck out only four times in the last two seasons while Hurdle has been her coach. She also had a .462 batting average with 24 hits during her senior season. She hit 10 doubles, had three homeruns and eight RBI. She had a .545 on base percentage and a .865 slugging percentage this season.
She also led the Vikings as a junior in six different offensive categories. She had a .508 batting average, 12 RBI, 14 doubles, a homerun to go along with a .573 on base percentage. She also had a .769 slugging percentage.
Abrams likes to hit for power. Opposing team defenses play deep on her when she comes to the plate to hit or they would chose to walk her. She was walked 11 times this season.
"With a kid as strong as Kailyn she will hit a lot of long balls," Peace head coach Charlie Dobbins said. "I see the potential in her to hit a lot of homeruns in college."
With Abrams power as a hitter she will have an advantage in college during home games, because she will be playing on a field that is 190 feet down the left and right field lines.
"We have the smallest park in North Carolina in college softball," Dobbins said. "Our left and right field lines are short and that will be an advantage for Kailyn."
Abrams has a good work ethic and always wants to do her best when she takes the field. She stays after practice to take extra reps on defense with ground balls and also taking cuts with the bat to make sure her swing is where she wants it to be.
"Kailyn's batting average is so high, because she doesn't strike out," Hurdle said. "She has the best knowledge of the strike zone than anyone I have coached."
Abrams has been involved with softball for many years and has gotten better and better through her years of work. She just has a passion for the game which caught the eye of Dobbins and made him want to recruit her.
"She has some work to do like most freshman that are coming into college," Dobbins said. "I saw potential in her though, because of her size and strength. She is a strong kid and it is an opportunity to build an athlete at our college."
Abrams made a transition before her senior season. She was the Vikings catcher early on in her career, but was moved to shortstop early on this year. She also played first base a couple of games and caught some as well later on in the season.
Abrams will be playing on the corners or will be the designated hitter in college according to Dobbins.
"I always evaluate kids at the corner positions, because they are key positions in college," Dobbins said. I look at what the kid can do for the program or what the program can do for the kid before they come to college and make my decisions."
Abrams will be successful in college, because according to Hurdle she is willing to put in the extra work after practice if that is what it takes to get better.
Abrams was selected to play in the Powerade East - West All-Star game two consecutive years after her sophomore and junior season when she was selected as a member of the team after trying out.
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Related Photos
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Tarboro Lady Viking Kailyn Abrams sits between her parents after she agreed to play college softball at William Peace Unversity next season. Back, left, Tarboro athletic director Jamie Willoughby, Tarboro head coach Riley Hurdle, and Tarboro asst. coach George Whitehurst. Principal Dr. Lisa Cooke.
Abrams to play at Peace
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Tarboro beats SouthWest 16-11
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Tars drop season opener 8-7 to Nash County
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10 Under Champs
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Tarboro Parks and Recreation scores
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Baseball
Little Tarheel League
Pizza Inn 14 WRL Farms 4
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