Karissa Hamilton’s softball dream became a reality Thursday in the Golden Bear Room at Shelbyville High School.
Hamilton officially signed her National Letter of Intent to play softball at the University of Kentucky.
“I can’t believe we’re already here,” said Hamilton. “Everything went by so fast. My dream finally came true. I am so excited to officially be a Wildcat. I’ve been waiting for this for such a long time.”
Hamilton admitted Kentucky was her top choice for several years. And while she entertained playing at Big Ten schools Indiana and Michigan, the lure of playing in the Southeastern Conference at a school she has been attending camps at for several years was too much to pass up.
“I wanted to play SEC and Kentucky has been my dream school,” she said. “I’ve been going down there for camps since seventh grade and every time I go down there I fall in love with it more and more. They have amazing coaches, amazing teammates and the campus is so beautiful. It has the majors I want and it’s close to home and I love it.”
Hamilton, the daughter of an elementary teacher in Shelbyville, is considering majoring in Elementary Education with a minor in agriculture.
Already a well-known commodity on the travel softball circuit with her Indiana Magic Gold squad, Hamilton burst onto the state scene with a dynamic junior season with the Golden Bears.
In 29 games, she hit .604 with a program-record 22 home runs, 11 doubles and 55 runs batted in. She currently holds Shelbyville’s single-season and career home run records with another season on tap.
Karissa Hamilton (center) displays the three home runs balls she hit in one day for Shelbyville last season. (Above photo) Hamilton signed her National Letter of Intent Thursday to play college softball at the University of Kentucky. Her parents, David and Angie Hamilton, and her older sister, Elliana, joined her for the moment.
“I want to improve on what I did last year which is a very big challenge,” admitted Hamilton. “I am definitely up for it. I want to break the single-season state home run record.”
With her 22nd home run last season, Hamilton tied the state record held by her future Kentucky teammate Erin Coffel. That record was broken by Pioneer’s Hailey Cripe, who led her team to the Class 3A state softball title. The University of Kansas commit hit 23 home runs in 37 games last season.
Also a two-time state swim meet qualifier, Hamilton is about to embark on her senior season with the Golden Bears swim program where she holds three individual and three relay records.
Despite being ranked as one of the top 25 players in the country in the graduating class of 2022, Hamilton has no guarantee of playing time as a freshman at a Kentucky program that was 43-16 last season (13-11 in SEC games).
“Coach (Rachel) Lawson is very fair,” said Hamilton. “She does not give you guaranteed playing time. You have to work for your spot. I am very excited for that competition and see where I play. They see me as a catcher and an outfielder.”
Shelbyville’s swim season kicks off Tuesday at Lawrence Central.
The Golden Bears’ softball season is scheduled to start March 30 at Cathedral.
