NSR prospect dedicated to softball, school and community

How does Haylee Keating have time for it all?  That’s what you wonder when you learn everything this National Scouting Report softball prospect is involved in at school, her community and with her sport.

A senior infielder/outfielder for Paragould (Ark.) High School, Keating doesn’t appear to have any free time at all.  But in describing all her various activities,  she seems unfazed by her hectic, year-round schedule.

“As a student at PHS, I currently carry a 3.25 GPA and am very active in school activities. Not only do I play for Arkansas Voodoo and the PHS Lady Rams, I also train with my instructors two hours a week to always improve my softball skills,” she said. “I am a member of the Rotary Club, Leo Club, President of Junior Civitan, member of the Greene County Youth Advisory Committee and also do Peer Mentoring as well as 2016 Senior Model Rep for Amber Oxley Photography.  I will be representing Team USA-Saw in July 2016 in Europe playing the sport that I absolutely love.”

NSR softball director Robby Wilson, who discovered Keating, can’t say enough about her athletic talents.

“Haylee Keating is a ’16 corner/SS/OF that really has the tools to contribute at each,” he said in his NSR scouting report. “Her offensive prowess is where she really shines as the clear four-hole hitter. She has consistent gap-to-gap power with ball exit speeds 70-plus MPH, and she hits the occasional bomb.  Haylee is athletic enough and a smart enough base runner to be effective when needed. Defensively, she is good at short because of her side-to-side and front-to-back quickness and range. But she is also good on the corners. She is a solidly built kid with good size (5-feet-6, 155 pounds).  A vocal leader on the team, Haylee is always positive and always leads by example.  A gritty type, Haylee will be a big addition to a program not just because of the energy she brings to the team, but in her defensive versatility.”

A four-year starter, Keating has helped Paragould win back-to-back conference titles and reach the final of the 5A state softball tournament last season.  The team has been ranked in the top four of 5A schools in her first three seasons.  It also has won the Ozark Classic championship all three years.

Keating manages to keep everything in proper perspective.

“I have a huge support system,” she said. “Without them I would not be where I am today.  I have played softball since I was 9 years old, but not until my freshman year did I realize how important the sport was to me and how quickly it could be taken from me.

“Doctors didn’t know if I would be able to play the sport which I fell in love with due to some medical issues I had at the time.  It taught me that if I believe and trust in myself and fight for what I believe and love that anything is possible.  I have my family to thank and some very dear people to thank for getting me where I am and keeping me focused and showing me that with support, love, and believing in myself that I could accomplish anything.”