Stand-out athlete commits to play for CNCC Spartans

While she still has one season of high school softball left, Green River High School Senior Izzy Kelley is already planning ahead to her college career.

Kelley recently committed to play softball for the Colorado Northwestern Community College Spartans. She celebrated her choice with a large group of family, friends and coaches this week.

The Spartans recently welcomed a new Head Softball Coach, Chris McKenzie, who reached out to Kelley personally.

"His energy was so good over the phone," Kelley explained. "I just knew he was gonna be a good coach, and I really wanted to go there."

Kelley had the opportunity to visit the CNCC campus, take a tour, and practice under Coach McKenzie for a day. His energy remained good in person, and Kelley was excited to see how he interacted with both her and the players that are already on his team.

"He was such a good coach," she said. "Even if someone made a mistake, he never hated on them or put them down for anything."

Kelley is also looking forward to being able to continue her softball career at the next level after having a strong start in high school. For her freshman and sophomore years, she was on the team as a designated player, or DP. This meant she was not a starting player and only focused on hitting, but she said that experience gave her a passion for hitting and base running. In her junior year she got to be a starter and to play outfield, specifically left field, which gave her more of a "full experience" for the sport.

"I think it makes me a better player," Kelley said of her experience playing as both a non-starting and starting player.

Her time playing softball for Green River High School has also taught her valuable lessons, particularly "to never give up" and "to continue no matter what happens."

Kelley's growth over her high school career has been evident to her coach, Mark Hyde, who has been an assistant softball coach at GRHS and was recently hired as the head coach.

"Izzy has been great," Hyde said. "Just watching her progression over the years, and then to adapt from one position to another and learn how to play that position and excel at it, has been awesome to see."

Kelley has been a coachable player, Hyde noted, and he explained that she has put extra effort into improving her game, including traveling to Utah to play.

"She works hard and cares about the sport. You can definitely see that in her," he said. "I just think that dedication to the sport will help her as she goes on to the next level."

Hyde is excited for Kelley's future, both when she gets to college and in the upcoming softball season for her senior year.

"Seeing her progression as a person and as a player is fun to watch," he said.