Prep Softball: Sullivan signs with Lake Land College
Harrisburg's McKenize Sullivan plans to major in business post high school and eventually become a real estate agent, which makes a lot of sense considering the softball player covers plenty of ground playing centerfield for the Bulldogs.
On Wednesday, Sullivan, who was surrounded by family and coaches, signed scholarship papers to continue her softball career with Lake Land College, located in Mattoon.
It's a weight off Sullivan's shoulders, signing her national letter of intent in November.
It definitely feels good," Sullivan said. "It feels like a lot of things are easier for me. Practices are a lot smoother and I feel more relaxed and more comfortable."
Sullivan has a current career batting average of .400 and has been an Southern Illinois River-to-River Ohio Division All-Conference player the last three seasons. She has been selected to the SICA/ASA Southern Illinois All-Star Game and broke Harrisburg's single season home run record as a freshman.
Harrisburg head coach Red Stafford noted that Sullivan is a good hitter with good speed, who can hit for average and hit for power. The two should be a strong suit as Sullivan prepares for the next level.
"It's always great to see your kids go on and get a chance to play at the next level. McKenzie is a very good athlete and a really good softball player and I have no doubt she'll do well."
Sullivan herself believes the transition from hitting high school pitching to junior college pitching should be seamless, but the basics are something she's going to have to continue to work on.
"I feel like I'm going to have to keep working on the basics, because coach (Nic) Nelson sees things differently than the way I have done them in the past.
"Lake Land is a good fit for me because I like they way coach Nelson pushed me. He's going to push me through a lot of things and help me get moved on to another school after two years."
While at Lake Land, Sullivan will be joined by Murphysboro's Mikayla Brasel. Someone who Sullivan calls her best friend.
"That's going to make the transition even easier," Sullivan said of having Brasel on campus with her. "She's my best friend and she's a really good athlete. We've known each other since we were 13 years old and we've always played ball together."
Sullivan and Brasel played on this summer's Midland Magic 99 South team, along with fellow Lake Land signee and Boonville resident Braylyn Burdick.
Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register and Eldorado Daily Journal. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.