Kelsey Shirey of Nordonia High School loves to hit the ball -- so much so that she didn't even notice when she recently hit for cycle, something many batters only dream of achieving. 

Just last week this middle-of the-order hitter for the Knights hit for the cycle (single, double, triple, and home run) in a win over Massillon Washington. “I didn’t even know until one of the parents told me, and then I thought it was pretty cool,” Shirey said.

“I love to hit,” said Shirey, this week’s SportsInk.com’s Athlete of the Week.

Shirey, a junior, is coming off a terrific basketball season and says that one sport complements the other.
 
“There is an increase in my speed coming out of the basketball season,” Shirey said.

She played point guard for the Knight hoops team and now mans the shortstop position for Nordonia on the diamond. “It is new to me, as I played the outfield the previous two years,” she said. New coach Liz Young has given Kelsey a chance at the demanding position and Shirey has prospered.
 
“I have made some errors but I am getting to the ball a lot better,” Shirey said. 

Softball started for Shirey back in tee ball with her dad and actually was not fond of the game originally. Once she got into manager-pitch, she took a liking to the sport.

“The tee-ball thing was not for me,” she said.

Shirey actually came to the Knights program as a catcher, but was quickly moved to the outfield to get her in the lineup and now is on her third position.

“I need more reps at the shortstop position,” she said. “I love the spot because now you’re in the game on every pitch.” 

Kelsey went to say that first-year coach Liz Young has brought energy and positive thinking to the program. “I think we have great potential; we can be real good.”

Number 13 for the Knights has her act together off the field and court as she is already planning a career as either a teacher or in the communications industry. She certainly has a clear vision in sports and in her life. 

“I see the ball real well at the plate, I love playing offense in softball,” she said.

Kelsey Shirey 

TV Show: America’s Best Dance Group

Movie: Tommy Boy

Hobby: Read and swim at the pool

Pizza: pepperoni

Bucket List:  visit Europe