OKEMOS - Okemos softball Player Kate Buckland is proof that any athlete can excel with commitment, training, and hard work. Kate wasn't born with the skills to be a great softball player, but she was built by many coaches over the years that have turned her into one. Kate is headed to play D1 ball as a catcher at Mercer University in Macon, GA.

She's mostly looking forward to getting out of Michigan and being able to play ball all year-round in the south. She has spent the last 8 years playing travel ball with Detroit Compuware Fastpitch as a starting catcher, left fielder, center fielder, and 3rd base player.

She was the bat girl for MSU softball under Coach Jackie Joseph for 2 years, 2008 and 2009 and this was when her passion for the game came to life. While traveling with Compuware she realized how important it was to balance softball and school was. In 2015 she won the coaches awards and also earned Conference All Academic awards in 2014 and 2015.