SARNIA – Home is where the heart is.
Wyoming native Kylee Shortt has announced her commitment to the Lambton Women’s Softball Program for the 2023 season, staying close to home as she gets set to begin the next chapter of her softball and education journeys. She will be joining her father Greg, who doubles as her father and the Lambton Women’s Softball Head Coach, in the dugout for the Lions.
Shortt, who is primarily a Pitcher, is the first member of the 2023 recruiting class for the Women’s Softball Program. The addition of Shortt will add immediate depth to a key position for the Lions moving forward.
“I’m looking forward to joining an awesome (academic) program while continuing to play softball at the next level,” said Kylee. “Having played softball in the area while I was growing up, it’s an exciting opportunity to stay close to home.”
“Having family and friends be able to watch me play is going to be a cool experience.”
Shortt, who will join the Lions after graduating from Lambton Central Collegiate & Vocational Institute in Petrolia, will be enrolled in the Instrumentation & Control Engineering Technology (ICET) Program while at Lambton College.
When the Women's Softball program was first announced and he was introduced as Head Coach, one of the focal points for Greg Shortt was to keep as many of the local softball talents in Sarnia-Lambton by giving them a place to continue their competitive softball careers while also receiving a top-quality education at Lambton College.
He didn’t have to look far for his first recruit and is excited to continue coaching Kylee at the next level in the years to come.
“I’m excited to have her join our team,” said Greg. “I know what kind of competitor she is, and I know her love for the game, and I’ve been able to see her grow and develop as a player over the years so it’s awesome to see her continue her career at the next level.”
“I’m just looking forward to seeing her continue to grow as she balances playing a varsity sport with going to college, but I know she’s more than capable of doing just that.”
Not many student-athletes get to play for a parent at the collegiate level, and vice versa when it comes to coaching your own kid. This unique opportunity isn’t lost on either Kylee or Greg the 2023 season is quickly.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” added Kylee. “It’s not something that a lot of people are fortunate enough to experience at the collegiate level, so I’m going to enjoy every moment of it while it lasts.”
Having been part of the local softball community as she’s grown up and moved through the ranks, Kylee will have no shortage of family and friends sitting along the fences at Sarnia’s Tecumseh Park cheering her on. When asked what the Lambton fans can expect to see from her on the diamond, she wasted no time with her response.
“Fans can expect to see someone who will work hard on the diamond, in the gym, and in the classroom,” added Kylee. “They will also see someone who is dedicated to doing whatever it takes to help the team succeed.”
The Lions are coming off a debut season in 2022 that saw the group contend for a playoff spot out of the gates. The Lions were in the playoff picture on the final weekend of the regular season, and despite falling just short of the post-season, it was a strong start to the Women’s Softball Program at Lambton College.
Now, with Kylee in the mix, the Lions are continuing to build on the foundation that was set last season as they look to climb into the post-season picture in 2023.
The 2023 OCAA season will begin in early September.