Ark Valley News - Burnett to join reigning national champs

Kaylee Burnett (center) signs a letter of intent to play softball at Butler Community College. She is joined by head coach Corey Jones and assistant coach Kyrie Edwards.

Burnett to join reigning national champs
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: November 23, 2016

Kaylee Burnett, pitcher, first baseman and slugger for the Valley Center High School softball team, signed a letter of intent Nov. 1 to play for Butler Community College next year.

"I thought it was a good choice," Burnett said. "They offered me the most money and they have my degree, which is the main reason why you go to college."

Burnett plans to study accounting at Butler.

She will pitch and possibly play first base for the Grizzlies, who won the 2016 NJCAA national championship, the program's first.

"I hope to win another national championship and just get better and improve and go to the next level," said Burnett, who has a goal to play for an NCAA Division I program.

Burnett, who transferred to Valley Center from Bishop Carroll before the 2015 season, said she was glad she found a home with the Hornets.

"I fit very well at Valley Center," she said. "… I work really well with the girls here. We all mesh really well, which is why I think we did really well the last two years."

Coach Corey Jones said Burnett has been an integral part of the Valley Center roster and could impact a team on the next level.

"She fit in right away," Jones said. "She gets along with the girls. She stepped in as really the No. 1 pitcher and our best first baseman. Sometimes good teams need that one player to get over the hump, and she's proven to be that player."

Jones said he appreciates Burnett's fun-loving attitude and fiery competitiveness.

"She's always smiling," Jones said. "Her laugh makes everybody else laugh. I can hear it from across the field. But then when she's on the mound, she's pretty intense. Once the game starts, she's really intense, which is good."

Burnett was a first-team all-league section in 2015 and was honorable mention in 2016. The Hornets qualified for the 5A state tournament the past two seasons.

Burnett hopes to finish her VCHS career on a high note.

"I think the seniors this year are not going to give up," Burnett said. "We're just going to keep going because we want it so much."