BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Kiley Channell, a 2023 Keystone Heights High School graduate, has announced she’s taking her playing talents to the Atlantic Coast Conference, where she’ll join the Clemson Tigers softball program after playing two years at Florida Atlantic University.
Channell is coming off a season in which she earned second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors after batting .330 in 56 games. She had a team-high 14 doubles to go along with two triples, two home runs, 44 RBI and 34 runs scored.
Besides what she did on the field, Channell was recognized for her classroom performance as she was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team with a cumulative GPA of 3.7 as a pre-Business major.
Some of Channell’s highlights this past season included:
—2 for 3 with a triple and three RBI in a 3-2 win over Kansas on Feb. 6.
—3 for 4 with three runs scored in an 11-8 win over Long Island on Feb. 21.
—A double with two RBI in a 13-8 win over Long Island on Feb. 22.
—Two RBI in a 5-3 loss to Austin Peay on March 1.
—2 for 3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in a 9-0 win over Morehead State on March 2.
—3 for 3 with three doubles, four RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases in a 13-0 win over Toledo on March 5.
—2 for 4 with a run scored in a 4-1 win over UAB on March 14.
—3 for 4 with a double and a run scored in a 3-2 win over Charlotte on March 21.
—2 for 4 with a run scored in an 8-6 loss to Charlotte on March 23.
—2 for 2 with a grand slam, five RBI and two runs scored in a 14-3 win over UTSA.
—2 for 4 with a run scored in a 5-2 loss to FIU on April 2.
—2 for 4 with two RBI in a 7-3 loss to USF on April 5.
—2 for 3 with a double and a run scored in an 8-0 win over North Texas on April 13.
—2 for 5 with three RBI and two runs scored in a 24-2 win over Memphis on April 25.
—Two RBI in a 10-2 win over Memphis on April 27.
—5 for 5 with two doubles, five RBI and a run scored in a 13-2 win over Tulsa on May 3.
Channell, who was named AAC Rookie of the Year in 2024, started all 113 games she appeared in during her two years at FAU. Her career stats are a .331 batting average, 33 doubles, three triples, three home runs, 79 RBI and 63 runs scored.
The Owls went 45-12 (23-4 in the AAC) in Channell’s sophomore season and were 41-16 (21-6) her freshman season. FAU qualified for the NCAA Regionals both seasons.
Channell now joins a Clemson program that went 48-14 (19-5 in the ACC) this past season, advancing to the Super Regionals and going 1-2 against eventual national champion Texas.
Prior to going to FAU, Channell excelled for five years at the varsity level at KHHS. As an eighth-grader, she played in 26 games, leading the team in RBI with 25 and batting .388, which was third on the team. Channell struck out only three times in 91 at-bats.
In her freshman season, which was shortened because of COVID, Channell batted .345. She followed that with a .346 average her sophomore season, which also saw her finish with 21 RBI (second on the team).
Channell led the team in RBI with 29 her junior season and was also second in batting average at .404.
As a senior, she led the Indians with a .493 batting average and 32 RBI. She also had team highs with eight doubles, four triples and eight home runs.
