BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Keystone Heights High School senior Kiley Channell has been making her mark on the school’s varsity softball team since she was an eighth-grader. When she graduates, she’ll attempt to make her mark at Florida Atlantic University.
Channell, a middle infielder, signed a letter of intent to play for the Division-I Owls during a Nov. 15 signing ceremony in the KHHS media center.
“I feel great,” she said. “It’s an amazing opportunity. It’s been my dream since I was younger.”
Though she had been excelling at KHHS and with her travel team, Channell said it wasn’t until Sept. 1 of her junior year when she started realizing she could get the opportunity to play big-time college ball. That was when she began being contacted by D-I schools.
Channell said she received four to five offers from D-I schools. She chose FAU because of its coaching staff and for what the school offers academically.
“I met the coaches. They’re just amazing,” Channell said. “They just match my energy. They’re just like me — an older version of me. I just love it.
“They have a really good business program there. That’s what I want to go into.”
The FAU athletics department gives a shoutout to its signed student-athletes on social media with the “Welcome to Paradise” slogan. The school has six campuses that span 110 miles of the southeastern coast.
It is indeed paradise, Channell said, adding, “There are iguanas everywhere. It is so cool. The beach is really pretty there.”
Before she gets to paradise, she has to play her fifth year on the KHHS varsity team. As an eighth-grader, Channell played in 26 games. She led the team in RBI with 25 and was third in batting average at .388.
“She struck out only three times in 91 at-bats,” KHHS Head Coach Jessica Maquart said. “That, to me, is just amazing. I knew right then, ‘This girl is special.’ She’s going to go somewhere.”
She didn’t excel just offensively as an eighth-grader. She finished that season with only one error in the field.
“Her range is just crazy, and her hands are really good,” Marquart said.
Channell, who also played on the varsity basketball team as an eighth-grader, said she wasn’t intimidated by playing with and against older players.
“I played travel ball with older people, so I was used to playing with older people,” she said.
In her freshman season, which was shortened because of COVID, Channell batted .345 and committed just one error in nine games.
She was second on the team in RBI with 21 during her junior season. She batted .346 and committed five errors.
Last season, she led the team with 29 RBI, while her batting average of .404 was second-best. She committed one error.
“She’s worked at it,” Marquart said of Channell’s success. “She worked really hard to get to where she is. She does have natural ability, but she’s put in the time.”
When it comes to batting, Channell said she steps to the plate with the mindset that she’s the person to get the job done, especially when the team has runners in scoring position.
“That is what I thrive on,” said Channell, who’s struck out only 18 times in 287 varsity at-bats.
As for her defense, Channell gave credit to her father, Jason, who’s also her travel-ball coach.
“I’m always working with my dad,” she said. “We just work on fundamentals and breaking down mechanics and stuff like that, so that when the game comes, I’m just going through the motions.”
Channell enjoys the fact her father is a coach, saying, “It’s been great. I can go to the field anytime I want — anytime he’s home. He’s always been there. He always wants the best for me.”
It would appear FAU is getting a great player with a strong work ethic, but judging by comments made by Channell’s high school coaches, the Owls are also getting a player who’s committed to supporting her team. Marquart said it doesn’t matter if Channell is struggling herself, her attitude is always positive.
“She always cheers her teammates on,” Marquart said.
Jessica Carter, who is the head coach for the KHHS girls basketball team, said she’s had players suffer injuries who chose to stay away from the team until they were ready to play again. That wasn’t the case with Channell, who missed approximately half a season with a broken ankle. Carter said Channell showed up at practices to encourage and help the players who had to fill her position.
“She’s always about the team,” Carter said. “She’s never about herself.”
It’s that desire to help her team that’ll have her feeling anxious when she shows up at FAU.
“I feel like making my coaches proud is what I’m really nervous about,” Channell said. “When I step out on the field, it’s going to be like, ‘Well, I’ve got to be perfect.’”
Channell admitted that she understands no one is perfect. However, FAU is still going to get a player who stives for perfection — on and off the field.
“FAU is getting a fantastic softball player, but they’re also getting a good student, too,” Marquart said. “She excels in the classroom. She wants to do good in her life and be successful.
“They’re just getting an all-around great athlete and great person.”
