Sensational

What a summer it has been for Kelsey Dean.

The Blue Springs South junior started at shortstop on the Blue Springs Swing Builder Lightning 18-and-under softball team and as the youngest member of the squad accomplished some remarkable feats.

They include: All-Star designation in June at the Fireworks College Exposure Tournament in Aurora, Colo., that included elite softball teams from all over the country and more than 200 college recruiters and taking part in a single season record for the most double plays in club history.

“Kelsey is one of our younger players and she did a great job for us,” Lightning coach Doug Glasscock said of Dean. Former Kansas City Royal Les Norman is also a coach  with the Lightning. “Defensively, she did a really great job. Her and her partner (Kenzie Spears) who played second base set a club record - we have eight teams - for the number of double plays for a season, which was really good.”

At the Fireworks College Exposure Tournament, Dean and five of her teammates were selected to play in various All-Star games coached by college coaches and from that game Dean and one of her teammates, Jill Lucas, were named All-Americans. Lucas played in the All-American game, and Dean played in the Best of the Best All-American game.

“It was fun,” Dean said earlier this week of playing with and against some of the best girls in the country. “I only got to play two innings because there were 32 girls on our team. I got a few balls at shortstop, but it was fun playing in front of college coaches. It was good exposure, and I think it went well for me.”

The players selected for Best of the Best game were from all across the country and the game was even televised nationally on Fox College Sports Channel and locally on Metro Sports.

“It was really cool,” Dean said of playing on national TV. “I was excited. It was cool to see yourself play with a lot of older girls because I was like one of the youngest on the team. I thought it was really awesome. I had little butterflies in my stomach.”

The All-American designation also landed Dean and Lucas an invitation to travel to New York City in July of next year with the Triple Crown USA team.  

 “We were very fortunate to get six in the All-Star games and two made the All-American games, so that was pretty big for our club and those individual players that have been working hard all year,” Glasscock said.

Dean batted close to .350 this summer, had an on-base percentage of nearly .620, was 9 out of 10 in stolen base attempts and helped the team finish 4-3 in the USSSA World Series July 19-25 in Overland Park.

“Kelsey batted over .300 for us - she batted leadoff or No. 2 the whole season. She made the all-star team (in Colorado) that was selected by the coaches. From the all-star team, college coaches picked their best players to play in the All-American game.

“It wasn’t just an All-American game, it was THE All-American game which was televised on TV. That particular team she made was the best team with the highest rated players, so she did a great job.

Kelsey is one of those real dedicated players who hits year around. (She) takes lessons and works super hard. She’s super dedicated to her sport and she has a lot of interest from college coaches already, so she’s already been recognized. She’s headed in the right direction.”

Not only did Dean have an outstanding summer season, she piggy backed off a spring season at South that included her being the only female pole vaulter for the Jaguars and she is currently sixth on the all-time honor roll board. Dean is also a member of the Quill and Scroll Honor Society.

When fall practices begin next month for the Jaguars, expect Dean and her teammates to set lofty goals.

“We have basically our whole varsity team back this year and I’m really excited,” Dean said. “I think we’re going for state.”