Dale High School senior catcher Kinley Patten has built her game around one skill that sets catchers apart from every other position on the field: perspective.
“The strength of my game is my field awareness. As the catcher, I have a unique view of the field and definitely use that to my advantage to help my teammates out. I’m improving my mental skills and not letting things affect me as much. Focusing on one play at a time. One at bat at a time,” Patten said.
That mindset has become part of a larger team identity at Dale, where Patten said the roster’s chemistry drives its success. “We are like family and share a close bond. We are all competitive and focused on the same goal. No matter what happens we will always be there for each other,” Patten said.
Patten credits former teammate Kinsley Hill with shaping how she views the sport. “The person who inspires me is my former teammate, Kinsley Hill. She has always been like family to me. She welcomed me with open arms and showed me that softball is more than just a game. There’s a special bond that comes with a pitcher and catcher,” Patten said.
She pointed to longtime throwing partner Khloe Jones as another key influence. “Khloe Jones, she has been my best friends since I first came here as a freshman. We have been throwing partners every year and season of high school. She’s always positive and encouraging and leads by example on and off the field,” Patten said.
With Dale entering another season carrying high expectations, Patten said the program’s standard never wavers. “As far as it being difficult having great back-to-back seasons, that is the expectation here at Dale. We are expected to have great seasons, every season. That’s the Dale tradition. We hate losing more than we love winning and it’s all about mindset,” Patten said.
Outside of softball, Patten is a member of Student Council and stays active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She plans to continue her softball career at Rogers State University, where she will major in psychology. “I learned that you have to compete for what you want. You can’t just show up and expect to get it,” Patten said.
