For The Tribune

Katie Suits said when she visited Taylor University, she found a plethora of things she admired about the school.

The decision to continue her softball career, in Upland, Indiana, was an easy choice.

“I chose Taylor because I loved the campus, I loved the atmosphere, and I loved the coaching staff,” the Seymour High School senior said. “They are a great coaching staff, and the girls on the team are so much fun to be around.

“Even the administration at Taylor, when I went in for my first visit I knew that’s where I wanted to be. They’re very nice, pleasurable, and they answered any question I had. It was a real nice visit.”

For those reasons, Suits signed a letter of intent to continue playing on the diamond at Taylor on Wednesday.

Suits said Taylor is recruiting her to play first base, third base, and catcher: the same positions she plays for the Owls.

“Softball is a fun game and definitely makes you think. You always have to be on your toes. You always have to be mentally tough and strong in the game. It’s always a mind game, too. I love that part of the game.”

Over the years, Suits has enjoyed making friendships with her teammates at Seymour.

“I love the girls that I’ve met, and the bonds that I’ve made, and that will last a long time, and the coaches that have impacted my life, not only on the field but off the field as well,” Suits said.

Suits said she began playing softball when she was 5 or 6-years old, and recalled the start of her high school career.

“My very first game in high school, I filled in for an injured player,” Suits said. “Varsity plays first in softball, and I played seven innings of varsity at first base, and then I caught seven innings for junior varsity (against Bedford). We won that game, too.

“Freshman it was kind of off-and-on, but my sophomore year I started varsity at third (base) and first. I will catch or play first this year. I would rather play in the field. I just love the game.”

Suits ranked among the top hitters on the team last spring when she had 25 hits — including 5 home runs, batted .385, and had 27 RBI.

Suits was named to The Tribune’s All-County team in 2016.

At the plate, Suits typically bats fourth for the Owls.

“I just go up there and look for a pitch I can absolutely crush,” Suits said. “I go with it and I usually wait until I get that or if I have two strikes I protect to make sure I get on.”

She said she began seriously thinking about playing softball at the next level her freshman year at Seymour.

Seymour basketball coach Jason Longmeier, who works with Suits on the hardwood, says he thinks she can prosper at Taylor.

“I think she’s a great student-athlete,” Longmeier said. “She exemplifies what it is that we look for in our student athletes. She’s a player that accepts her role 100 percent, shows up every day ready to go to work with an unbelievable attitude, a great student in the classroom, and a great teammate and I think Taylor is getting a great steal out of her.

Suits, who said she looked at two other colleges, plans to major in sports management at Taylor with a minor in youth ministry.

She is the second member of the class of 2017 with plans to participate in athletics at Taylor, as Lauren James announced she will play basketball there beginning next winter.

Taylor is a member of the Crossroads League with member schools in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan.