LAKEVILLE, IN. - LaVille's Heaylyn Kwiatkowski has been selected an all-state softball player by the Softball Coaches Association of Indiana (SCAI). The senior is the third player chosen to the all-state team, along with Hannah Herbster in 2014 and Allison Medors in 2021. When asked what she was thinking when she was told about the news, Kwiatkowski said, ". . . how grateful for all the years I have played softball. This was amazing news and I was so excited. I have been playing the game of softball since I was 8 years old and to have a great accomplishment like this is extraordinary. I am very thankful that I was chosen, and I appreciate all my coaches that I’ve ever had over my years of playing softball." Kwiatkowski, who played center field on the LaVille softball team, started her final high school season very strong offensively. According to MaxPreps she was at 18-of-30 for a .600 batting average. "At the beginning of the season, my offensive stats were impacted by my mindset of the game," Kwiatkowski explained when asked about the start of the season. "I have always thought that your mental game dictates what you do. If you think you can’t hit the ball then you won’t hit the ball. If you think you can hit the ball then you will hit the ball. That was just my mindset and I wanted to hit the ball every time I walked up to the plate. I had this mindset because I knew one day I will no longer be able to do that . So I worked my hardest. I did my best to have a positive mindset when I went up to the plate filled with confidence, and eagerness." In the North Judson-San Pierre game, Kwiatkowski was attempting to make a running catch and suffered a season-ending injury. "I got injured at the beginning of the second inning in the conference game versus North Judson.," recalled Kwiatkowski. "I was running for a pop up right over second base and I’d come in the infield where the grass meets the infield. I had stepped and twisted my knee, the wrong way, and felt a pop. "The surgery went great. My doctor said, 'Everything looked good.' Recovery has been long but patience is key. Just have to take it easy for a little bit so I can fully heal properly and then in a couple weeks I’ll get into rehab to strengthen my leg back up. Then hopefully get back to some physical activity." Kwiatkowski, also a three-sport athlete at LaVille, has played softball the last three years as the 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID. "Playing softball in high school has been a blast," said Heaylyn. "I have met many people and made new friends, which is what the game does. It brings people together. I feel over the last four years of high school softball I have learned a lot on the field and off the field and become a better teammate and person. What I enjoy the most about softball is when I am in centerfield and there’s this crazy ball hit to the outfield and somehow I catch it. Also, of course, the team. I’ve always loved my teammates and softball always brings us closer." Similar to the catcher, the centerfielder is capable of seeing the entire field. "In playing center field, I do see everything which makes me a better team captain because I can help those who need help or want help," Kwiatkowski said. "But also one of the best parts of being in center, is I can communicate with the entire field from where I’m standing. I can tell them good job and I can tell them you’ll get it next time, and they all love it as well." Heaylyn joins an impressive company, becoming the third LaVille Softball player to be named to the all-state team. "Being selected for all-state is an extraordinary opportunity to have," concluded Kwiatkowski. "Many people strive to have this and I am thankful that I was one. I feel it also shows a lot of hard work that was put into the sport and the love of the game. I am grateful to have been in the company of Hannah and Allison. I have heard lots of stories about Hannah, but I have seen with my own eyes with Allison. Allison was an amazing teammate but an even more amazing softball player. She was great behind the plate and at the plate. Her offense and defense was very strong, and she deserves to be chosen as all-state. "I just would like to say thank you to all of the people that have been in my life to help me get through sports and high school. I love you all. Thank you." LAVILLE SOFTBALL All-Time All-State Players 2014 - Hannah Herbster 2021 - Allison Medors 2023 - Heaylyn Kwiatkowski