December 26, 2022

By Jon Feyen
ScoutU

When recruits are narrowing down their college options, they can prioritize athletics, geography, academics or campus size. For Kaylie Scanlon, it was culture. That was the primary reason that Scanlon committed to Winona State University, an NCAA Division II school in Minnesota.

“I attended multiple camps there,” Scanlon said. “Instantly the culture and inclusiveness stood out to me. The girls brought such energy and welcoming attitudes that it instantly felt like somewhere I wanted to be. When I had my visit with coach (Greg) Jones, I got to know him and his values within the program and loved everything he had to say. I like the size of campus and the nursing program they have.”

Scanlon will bring both offensive and defensive value to the Warriors. During her junior campaign at Delano High School (Minn.), she hit .471 with six home runs, 28 RBIs and an .838 slugging percentage. At catcher, Scanlon boasts a 1.72 pop time and 58 mph throwing velocity.

“Kaylie is a power hitter who has a very quick swing at the plate,” ScoutU’s Jason Lauren said. “She also has a lightning quick release from behind the plate to keep runners honest on the base paths. I’m so excited that Kaylie found a great fit for her at Winona State, and I’m sure she will have a great career there!”

Last year, Winona State qualified for the NCAA Tournament and posted a 41-17 record. The Warriors have been a consistent threat in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, including a 30-0 league record (53-9 overall) during 2019.

“I couldn’t be more excited to continue my softball career,” Scanlon said. “College softball is what I always had a dream to pursue, and I worked towards it my entire career.”

Scanlon has already received accolades such as 1st-Team All-State and being named one of the Elite 35 Underclassmen in Minnesota. ScoutU knew that combining its resources with Kaylie’s resume would lead to a fantastic result.

“The exposure she received from ScoutU through email and her website stood out to us right away,” Kaylie’s parents said. “Jason always followed up after tournaments and was very helpful in anything we needed. ScoutU made it easy on our end to request national or regional email blasts for tournaments. This information was helpful for us to pursue colleges that showed interest.”