Kayla Drury Named Athlete of the Week in Daytona Area

Gaudy Numbers Make Taylor High Shortstop an Obvious Choice

Her credentials are eye-popping: A junior shortstop, for the week Kayla Drury batted .600 with six runs scored, six steals and four RBIs as her school, Taylor (FL) High  improved to 6-2 on the young season.  Through all games to date, Kayla was hitting at an impressive .593 clip to go along with 13 runs scored, 13 stolen bases and 10 RBIs when this was posted.  Oh, and there’s the matter which is truly extraordinary about this young athlete:  she is currently 86 for 86 in stolen bases in her high school career.  That’s right, Kayla has never, not once, been thrown out stealing a base over three years as a varsity player.  Now that’s a college recruiter’s dream.

In a recent interview, Kayla explained her success, “We practice hard, every day, and stay after practice. I think I’ve always had a drive to win, and playing ball is my life. I look forward to it every day.”

And what about her incredible stolen base streak?  “I don’t know, I guess I’m pretty fast!  I practice working on steals a lot.  I like to get a good jump.  Reading the pitcher and knowing the strength of the catcher’s arm are the most important things.  A lot is based on the catcher’s arm; depending on how strong it is.  If there’s no one else on, I’ll steal on the first pitch, every time. But if my coach doesn’t want me to steal, I won’t.”

When asked what is more fun, a hit, or a stolen base she said, “Hmmm, that’s a tough question. I don’t know. I’d probably have to go with a hit, even though I do love stealing.  It’s a great feeling to knock in runs in a pressure situation.”

Kayla stays away from trash talking if at all possible, but once in awhile when she’s at the plate the catcher will give her a hard time.  However, she is superstitious.  “I have to put my uniform on the same way. Right sock, and then right cleat, and left sock, left cleat. All the time. If I don’t, I feel off the whole game.”

Her plans after graduation include playing softball at Stetson University.  “I’m verbaled there right now.  After that I’d like to move up to New York, and have a business up there.  I like to write, I’d like to write for a magazine or a newspaper.”

So far, Kayla is sitting on a 3.8 GPA and indeed plans to major in Journalism.  Her National Scouting Report scout is Dave Johnson, Northeast Florida Area Director.