Shelbyville senior to continue softball career at Franklin College

Kali Laycock has competed in travel softball tournaments around the Midwest for several years. The result was finding a college softball home just 20 minutes from her house.

On Wednesday, the Shelbyville senior made her commitment to Franklin College official with a signing ceremony in the Golden Bear room at Shelbyville High School.

“It was a really good opportunity that kind of came out of nowhere,” explained Laycock. “The coach emailed me and said, ‘Hey, I really like your swing, come for a visit.’”

That visit was all it took for Laycock to know where she belonged.

“As soon as I stepped on campus, it was the most welcoming, amazing campus out there,” she said. “They have a great softball program and a great school in general.”

The daughter of Dustin and Jill Laycock plans to major in Biology as a precursor to working in the animal science field.

“Ever since I was a little kid I have loved working with animals,” she said. “I always volunteer at the animal shelter. I’ve always asked for dogs for Christmas. I just love animals.”

A two-sport athlete at Shelbyville, Laycock recently closed out her volleyball career and is now preparing for one final season on the softball diamond.

“(Senior Night) was amazing. I got really emotional from it … hearing my speech on the (public address system),” said Laycock. “It was a really emotional night so I can only imagine how softball (Senior Night) is going to go.”

As a freshman, Laycock was a starting outfielder for the Shelbyville softball team that reached the Class 4A Final Four before losing to eventual state champion Roncalli.

Laycock moved into the starting catcher’s role as a sophomore and helped the Golden Bears win a sectional championship. She caught nearly every inning as a junior for a 15-win team and is expected to do the same this year.

“I want to create a bond, and I want to bring the freshmen up and train new catchers,” said Laycock of what she wants to get out of her senior season. “I want to lead them to become better players and better teammates and, hopefully, we can get a sectional championship this year.”

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