Athlete of the Week: Carl Junction’s Kiley Spencer

CARL JUNCTION, MO — Carl Junction softball’s Kiley Spencer had a spectacular showing at the 2024 Houn Dog Classic. With great performances in the circle and at the plate, she marks this week’s edition of Athlete of the Week.

Playing softball since her youth, Spencer, a junior pitcher and utility player for the Bulldogs, has come a long way.

“I was not good when I was young,” said Spencer laughing.

“I was really bad. When I was probably like six or seven, I remember there was a pop fly hit to me and I couldn’t catch it. I backpedaled and almost fell down, it was not good at all.”

12 years later, Spencer is a star softball player in Carl Junction. In her first week of play in the 2024 season, the junior’s numbers were stellar: 2 home runs, a grand slam, and 13 strikeouts in the circle.

Spencer’s journey throughout her softball career hasn’t been an easy one, however. A path to excellence that required hard work, dedication, and heart, Kiley’s mother said her daughter puts everything into anything she does.

“Whether it’s softball, FFA, family, or anything that she does, she puts her whole heart and soul into it,” said Kiley’s mother Jonni Spencer.

“That’s what is really special about her, and I really admire that.”

Justin Spencer, Kiley’s father, said he’s proud of how Kiley has pushed herself to this point in her career.

“She’s self-driven and now she’s pushing herself. We’re watching her grow and become successful, and we’re all really proud of her,” said Spencer.

Now, as a high schooler, Kiley also puts in plenty of work into activities off the softball field. The upperclassman trains many younger softball players with hopes to better their game. Kiley said serving as a role model for younger athletes means the world to her.

“It means a lot to me because I know I’m impacting somebody’s life,” said Kiley.

“I’ve had a lot of girls that had helped me, especially seniors who I looked up to when I was playing. I learned a lot from all of those seniors, and each one of them made me better.”

Carl Junction will travel to take on Cassville and the Wildcats on Monday, September 9th at 4:30 p.m.

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