BLOOMINGTON
There wasn’t any other place that Rachel Kaufman wanted to end her high school softball career than on the diamond at Andy Mohr Field.
The recent Seymour High School graduate played in the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association’s North-South All-Star game at Indiana University Saturday.
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Due to rainy conditions in the morning, the scheduled doubleheader was changed to one nine-inning game.
“It was an awesome experience,” Kaufman said. “ It was a good way to meet new girls. I’ve played against a lot of these girls, and it was just awesome to be able to play with so many good players.”
Twenty-one players made up the South roster this year.
The North led 4-1 at the end of three innings, and the team didn’t look back en route to a 9-4 victory over the South. South was outhit 8-7 in the game and both teams had one error.
Kaufman, a pitcher, first entered the game in the fifth inning. After walking the leadoff, Kaufman struck out the next three batters. She then led off in the bottom of the inning, but grounded out to North’s shortstop.
In the sixth inning, Kaufman took the North down in order with two pop outs and a strikeout. She was substituted in the seventh inning in the circle, but had one last at-bat in the ninth. Kaufman struck out with her final at-bat, but that didn’t damper her day.
“I felt relaxed. I just went out there and played like I usually do,” Kaufman said. “I feel like I pitched pretty well. My first at-bat was pretty good and the second was all right, but I could have done better.”
Owls head varsity softball coach Jerry Burton said he thought Kaufman had a solid showing.
“She did great. She pitched really well and had some good at-bats,” he said. “She represented Seymour really well.
“It’s what high school softball is all about. You just hope that you can have players that can play in a North-South All-Star game. A lot of hard work goes in to it by the players. I’m just proud to be here to watch Rachel play.”
The night prior, Kaufman spent the night in Bloomington with the other all-stars.
“On Friday we got here early and checked in,” Kaufman said. “We went through a practice to get loose and to get to know each other. We then went back to the hotel and got ready for the banquet.”
Kaufman said she was proud to represent her community at the event.
“I’m only the third player to get to do it, and it’s a great honor,” Kaufman said. “I was really excited. It was awesome to see all those people in the stands there supporting me.”
Center Grove’s Abby Herbst was named Miss Softball at the game and Tecumseh’s Gordon Wood picked up Coach of the Year honors. Wood, Don Ivey (Decatur Central) and Rob Davis (Pendleton Heights) coached the South.
Kaufman wasn’t the only Hoosier Hills Conference player in the game, as Jennings County’s Kylee Matern and New Albany’s Mariah Grant were both on the South team.
Kaufman will be continuing her softball career at Lake Land College, a community college in Mattoon, Illinois. She said she plans on going to a bigger school after graduating from LLC.
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All-Star Resume
Rachel Kaufman, Seymour High School, senior
Pitching: 13-2 record (7-0 HHC), 104 IP, 163 K, 52 H, 16 BB, 23 ER, 1.54 ERA
Batting: 39 H (15 2B, 3 HR), .513 BA, 32 RBI
Other honors: North/South All-Star, First Team All-State, All-Hoosier Hills Conference, SHS most valuable player and pitcher.
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