Kylee Lewis has spent her entire high school career proving what can be achieved through hard work and dedication, even in the midst of a change.
The Twin Rivers senior was an outfielder throughout the first three years of her career with the Lady Royals, but has found a new home at shortstop.
Last Month, Lewis proved the transition was flawless as she stepped towards the next stage of her career by signing to play softball at St. Louis College of Pharmacy.
"I'm just relieved that I've finally made it to this point," Lewis said after a ceremony in front of family and friends at Twin Rivers High School. "I'm just excited to get to continue to play the sport that I love to play."
For her coach Kelsey Snider, the signing represented the next logical step for one of the Lady Royals' standout athletes.
"She's definitely one of those ballplayers who plays for the love of the game and she is very versatile," Snider said. "She's not really a verbal leader but she's always the first one to the field, the last one to leave. She's always asking what she can do to make her self and the team better, and she's an all-around great player and a great kid."
Though it wasn't by choice, Lewis said her switch from an outfielder to shortstop was the best thing for her. She battled the closer proximity to a hard hit line drive in her first few weeks earlier this fall, but settled in during a successful spring season.
"It was awful at first if I'm being honest, but I slowly got used to it," Lewis said. "I gave it a chance and it's paid off."
Snider, a Twin Rivers alum, made the switch in her first season at the helm in an effort to shore up her team's defense.
"I knew that she really wouldn't be scared to try a new position and she was one of the best fielder's that we had," Snider said. "I just threw her there and she did awesome at it. She's not one to sit on her heels. She'll come and get the ball and has a fantastic arm."
Lewis posted a .531 batting average this season with the Lady Royals. She had 17 singles in 32 at-bats, drove in five runs and scored 26 runs. She also had a team-high .706 on-base percentage, drawing 19 walks.
Lewis solidified her decision after a visit to St. Louis College of Pharmacy a few months ago where she toured the campus and met with the athletic director.
"It was fun," Lewis said. "It seemed like a perfect fit for me."
Lewis joins a St. Louis College of Pharmacy team that went 2-28 this spring and will play a big role, according to STLCOP first-year coach Nick Jepson.
"Kylee will bring enthusiasm and talent to our Eutectic program," he said. "She should be a real asset to our team."
While the chance to play softball for the Eutectics for the next four years was enticing, the most important decision for Lewis was her career choice. She's been set on joining the medical field for quite some time now, with one exception.
"I really want to help people but I didn't want to get into all the gross things," Lewis said. "Studying to become a pharmacist just made sense for me."