By Uy Pham
Four-year varsity starting pitcher, All-League First Team, Defensive Player of the Year and Sunset League MVP.
Now, senior Courtney Kols’s commitment to play Division I softball at Drexel University becomes the newest addition to her long list of accolades spanning the length of her softball career — ever since she began playing at the age of five.
Starting off in the Fountain Valley’s recreational softball league, Kols quickly advanced to one travel ball team before switching last summer to a bigger organization that helped with her recruiting process.
“I made a lot of memories with my first travel team [on] trips to Vegas and Arizona, and I made a lot of friends that I still keep in touch with today,” Kols said. “On my new team, it’s been fun traveling to Indiana, Colorado, Kansas and so many other states … I’ve been able to prove to myself that I can pitch at a high level and compete against really talented teams.”
As a freshman, Kols made the varsity softball team and quickly established as the starting pitcher — where she has been for the past four years. Her favorite memories include traveling to the team’s annual Arizona tournament and last year’s win against Marina High School.
Outside of school, Kols spends her time mainly playing softball and watching a lot of baseball games. For her, softball offers a home where she feels both comfort and freedom.
“I feel really at home when I’m pitching on the mound,” Kols said. “I have no nerves; it’s a place where I can be free, connect with my friends and focus on something other than schoolwork.”
Throughout her recruiting process, Kols looked for opportunities in the northeast, hoping to attend high-level academic and athletic school while also having the opportunity to move away from home.
“I’m really hoping to elevate their program and bring them to the league tournament and eventually the World Series,” Kols said. “I do want to major in sports business because Drexel has a really cool opportunity [where] I’m able to do an internship with local organizations, such as the [Philadelphia] Phillies … The industry is expanding a lot, and there’s a lot of opportunities.”
Kols credits her family for providing her with the motivation and sacrifices that have allowed her to achieve her success today. Going into her final year of high school, she hopes to carry the same values toward four consecutive CIF playoff campaigns — including a semifinal appearance in her freshman year.
“In the past, my obstacles included my confidence levels, comparing myself to others and having a fear of failure,” Kols said. “[But] trust yourself. Don’t compare yourself to anyone because they can’t do what you do, and you can’t do what they do.”
