Senior Kylie Cox Leads the Way from Behind the Plate

This is an article in Sporty Seniors, a bi-weekly column celebrating M-A senior athletes’ dedication to their sport.

Senior Kylie Cox has been playing softball since she was five years old, following in her family’s footsteps. “My dad and grandpa were both D1 baseball catchers, so that’s kind of why I got into it,” she said. 

Cox’s parents have been important figures in her career, and she credits them for her success. “Both my parents have supported me a lot through the journey. They’ve always been there for me and provided me with all the resources I need to pursue my sports, and they come to every single game that they can. They’re really great,” she said.

Cox played a variety of sports as a kid, including soccer, swimming, and tennis. However, none stuck in the same way softball did. “I just really like how it’s not predisposed to anybody specifically,” she said. “You don’t have to have a certain body type. You don’t have to have a certain skill set. As long as you have hand-eye coordination, anybody can find a position and play.”

In seventh grade, Cox began to take softball more seriously. With more free time on her hands because of the COVID lockdown, she spent her days at the park hitting with her dad. 

Cox played club softball for the Silicon Valley Fusion for two years before switching to the Cal Nuggets, where she played in 10th and 11th grade. She began the recruiting process, talking to coaches and attending camps, and received interest from some D3 schools. “I ultimately decided that wasn’t what was right for me. So I decided to pursue academics in college,” she said. 

Cox plans on attending Stanford University next year, majoring in women’s studies and women’s health. “I just decided I wanted to prioritize my academics and my overall college experience,” she said on why she chose Stanford. “I’ll definitely do rec[reational] sports, I just don’t want to sacrifice those other things in order to play in college.”

Cox has enjoyed her time playing for M-A and has grown close to the team. “I feel like I really clicked with them right away. I really love the softball team here at M-A,” she said. “It’s a really welcoming environment.” 

However, her journey has not been without its challenges. Cox has had to make many sacrifices, including missing the Homecoming dance her sophomore and junior years for softball tournaments. “It’s all about finding balance and not burning yourself out and not missing so many social things that you feel like you’re depressed,” she said.

Cox also suffered a fracture in her back during her sophomore year. “That was difficult, both physically and mentally. Not being able to play for two months was really hard,” she said. When returning to softball, Cox struggled to remember how to hit and had to relearn many skills.

Softball has also taught Cox skills to apply off the field. Through the recruiting process, she learned to talk to college coaches. “When I was a sophomore, and I was starting that whole process, I was terrified. I’d have panic attacks, I’d be sobbing before going to talk to them, and I just couldn’t do it,” she said. 

In the end, this experience improved her ability to deal with high pressure situations. “I feel like I [can] apply that whenever I have to do a college interview, or things like that. So I think it’s been really helpful,” Cox said. 

Her favorite memory at M-A has been senior night, where the team gets a taco truck and makes speeches about the graduating class. “It’s always bittersweet, because we are sad our seniors are graduating, but at the same time, it’s really, really fun,” she said. 

Cox’s advice to other athletes considering the recruiting process: “Don’t let yourself get too wrapped up in it. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to get recruited. Because, ultimately, that’s not the path for everybody. You’re gonna find a place that’s right for you, even if getting recruited isn’t the path. I know it’s easy when you’re in that situation to feel like it’s the end of the world if you don’t get recruited, but it’s really not like you will find a place no matter what.”