Richards junior Kailie Tobin has earned straight A’s since third grade, so the present — and the future — looks bright.
Tobin is ranked seventh in her class with a 4.9 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale and is a member of the National Honor Society. She’s also one of the best softball players at Richards.
Through Saturday she was batting .444 with five doubles, three triples and 21 RBIs. She plays multiple positions, including 18 games at second, five in right field and a few outings at pitcher. From the circle, she is 3-0 in 22 innings, has struck out 33 and has an ERA of 0.64.
Tobin earned a National Fastpitch Coaches Association Academic All-American Scholar-Athlete award in the fall. Her teammates are pretty smart, too. Tobin and seven of her teammates were honored at a District 218 board meeting for placing first in Illinois and 22nd in the nation for the NFCA team GPA rankings.
“She puts the student in student-athlete,” said coach Julie Folliard, now in her 23rd year. “She is able to help herself be successful and is very accountable for her actions. She is a team leader on the field just by her actions and has been more of a verbal leader also.
“She is a great team player and is just a coach’s dream and the rest of the team really respects her. She is critical of herself and very patient with her teammates.”
Tobin, a leadoff hitter turned cleanup hitter, helped Folliard capture her 500th career win on May 5. She had an RBI and scored a run during the 7-0 milestone win over Evergreen Park.
She put the entire package on display against Eisenhower on May 6 when she pitched a two-hitter and struck out 11 during a 15-0 Bulldogs win. She was also 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs.
Tobin wants to be a math teacher and continue her softball career, and she is leaning toward Washington University in St. Louis. She credits her success close to home.
“My parents are my role models because they are great people and hard working,” Tobin said. “They always inspire me to do my best and do what they know I can do, and they make me push myself. If I have a rough day and don’t do my best, they always let me know to keep my head up. They are always positive and reinforce all the things I do well.”
Kailie Tobin file
More Top Picks Pavers Landscapes
High school:
Richards.
Class:
Junior.
College:
Undecided, but leaning toward Washington University in St. Louis.