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Well, we know at least one strong candidate for NCAA DI Player of the Week!
South Carolina junior first baseman Kassidy Krupit had a Friday to remember as she went a combined 6-for-8 at the plate with nine RBIs for the Top 20-ranked Gamecocks in games to open the Gamecock Invitational.
Kassidy hit two home runs, one each in the 11-3 win over Seton Hall (5 innings) and the six-inning run-rule 14-6 victory over Longwood, and produced a 1.500 slugging percentage for the day along with a .778 on-base percentage.
Have a day, @kkrupit!
No big deal but she finished her Friday 6⃣-for-8⃣ with 9⃣ RBI, 4⃣ runs and 2⃣ home runs. pic.twitter.com/OELXBpAADh
— Gamecock Softball (@GamecockSoftbll) February 26, 2021
In the nightcap, the win over Longwood, Kassidy had a career-best six RBIs on a 4-for-4 night and in four games prior to Friday—all wins—she had a team-leading 11 RBIs in 11 at-bats.
In another pair of wins Saturday for South Carolina, Kassidy homered with 2 RBIs in the opening game 3-1 win over Seton Hall and in a 12-2 victory over Longwood she hit an RBI double to give her an amazing 22 RBIs in nine games.
The last game Saturday ended a stretch of three games with at least a home run, but Kassidy does have another notable streak going on: for the 9-1 Gamecocks she has at least one RBI in every game so far this season. She is also hitting .483 and .625 with runners in scoring position.
Yeah we already told you about her day but who doesn't like watching balls sent on a one-way trip to Mars? pic.twitter.com/jskrMXGB1e
— Gamecock Softball (@GamecockSoftbll) February 27, 2021
She also has been perfect in the field with no errors to go with 56 total chances. Sunday’s final game in the tourney will be a tough one as USC faces another Top 20-ranked team in Duke.
One of the most friendly and gregarious people—not just players—but people I’ve ever met, I admit being a fan of the current collegiate junior.
Many moons ago, while playing for Greg Schnute’s East Cobb Bullets, Kassidy came up to me between games at Colorado Sparkler one summer and stuck out her hand and said, “Hi Mr. Eads, I’m Kassidy Krupit!”
She would go on to be a Top 20 player in the 2018 Extra Elite 100, an Extra Inning Softball All-American, a PGF All-American and a four-time All-State player in Georgia.
Kassidy was originally headed to Delaware because of the school’s strong Physical Therapy program but a coaching change there ended up with her signing with Baylor instead. She started her college career in 2019 with the Bears before transferring to the SEC in 2020.
Last year, she started all 22 games for Coach Beverly Smith’s team and batted .308 with four home runs and 19 RBIs so she’s well on her way to smashing those marks.
I had the great opportunity to be around Kassidy at several events including the Louisville Slugger Hit Club. Here are a couple of articles we published focusing on Kassidy three years ago!
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball
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Louisville Slugger Hit Club: Invite #1… Kassidy Krupit
Originally published June 2, 2018 on Extra Inning Softball
We’ve followed Kassidy since the summer before her freshman year and her game has gotten better and better and better each year to the point where she became the talk of the South with many of the top college and club scouts we spoke with over the last six months.
This spring, after completing her high school season in Georgia last fall, Kassidy has been tearing it up and has had multi-home run games.
Versatile as an infielder and also a pitcher, her bat led one top club coaches in the country to say, “There’s no one I fear more at the plate” and her current Bullets coach, Greg Schnute, said of his talented senior grad: “Kassidy is always smiling and enjoying life. She almost works too hard and too much as she’s a competitor, but she’s delightful to have on our team.”
Here’s a closer look at 2018 Louisville Slugger Hit Club Invite #1…
NAME: KASSIDY KRUPIT
Hometown: Suwanee, Georgia
Positions: Infielder/pitcher
Club Team: East Cobb Bullets Gold- Greg Schnute
High School: Lambert (Suwanee, Georgia)
GPA: 3.9
College: Baylor
When Committed: end of freshman year
Height: 5-foot-6
Other sports: Crossfit
Top Stats/Honors: PGF All-American, named 1st Team All-State, All-Region and All-County all four years of high school; ranked #17 in the Extra Inning Softball Elite 100 (2018); led Lambert High to two Class 7A Georgia State and Region Championships; with East Cobb Bullets took 1st at Boulder IDT and 3rd at Triple Crown Nationals and 2nd at PGF 14U Nationals with Georgia Impact; hit .580 last fall with Bullets team.
Other Universities Considered: Power 5 conference schools (most SEC & ACC)
Preferred College Major: Exercise Science
Scouting Report: Hits the ball hard and barrels it up.
Coach’s Comments: “Kassidy is one of the most feared 2018 hitters in the country. She is a versatile two-way player as a power hitter who bats clean-up with an excellent glove as an infielder and a pitcher who competes at a high level. Kassidy has elevated her game over the last year and it showed both at the club and high school levels.” – Andrew Biele, East Cobb Bullets
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What’s your approach to hitting that you believe has made you successful?
I don’t let anyone beat me. I go up to bat with confidence, regardless of who the pitcher is, and look for my pitch.
What’s been your highlight of your career and why?
Playing in the PGF National Championship in 2015 and winning Boulder IDT in 2016. High pressure situations are the best situations!
What did you know about the Louisville Slugger Hit Club before being invited?
I knew that the Hit Club featured the top hitters in the nation and that it would be a fun event to attend.
What’s been the #1 thing in your mind that’s helped you develop as a good hitter?
I always think of keeping things simple and just hitting the ball hard wherever it’s pitched.
What goes through your mind as you step into the batter’s box?
Just to have fun and win the at bat!
Other than the obvious, getting on base, what would you qualify as a successful at-bat?
A successful at bat includes hitting to my potential. This includes situational hitting, hitting for power, and timely hitting.
Where will you be playing this summer?
Zoom Into June, Ole Miss Invitational, Boulder IDT, Triple Crown Nationals, and PGF Nationals.
Who’s a player, past or present, you look up to and why?
Aleshia Ocasio because she’s a very versatile player. She pitches and plays in the field, just like me.
When did you first realize you had the ability to play at the next level?
When I was 13, I was on one of the top travel teams and that’s when I realized I could play at the next level.
What is it you love about softball if you were explaining your passion for the sport to someone not familiar with it?
Softball is pretty much my life and I don’t know what I’d do without it. I consider my teammates family and that means a lot to me. Softball prepares me for life by providing me mentors and teaching me life lessons.
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Kassidy Krupit’s Blog: What I Did for Summer “Vacation”… Like Win A Natty, Be An All-American & A Hit Club Standout
Originally published August 4, 2018 on Extra Inning Softball
Having the summer off if you’re a dedicated softball player is hardly a “vacation,” unless you count going to some cool locales like Huntington Beach, Boulder or Atlanta as a vacation while you’re playing a showcase or in a nationals.
For Kassidy Krupit, our long-time blogger who has written and or done videos for Extra Inning Softball on topics ranging from “What Softball Has Taught Me” to “Pitch Recognition,” she had one eventful summer on and off the field.
It started in June when she got to commit to Baylor after getting a lease from Delaware after the Blue Hens had a coaching change.
Then she hit the trifecta of winning a National Championship, being an All-American and being selected as one of the top hitters in the country as part of the Louisville Slugger Hit Club!
Here’s a look at all three events from Kassidy’s prospective and what’s coming up for the outstanding hitter who will soon be going from the Orange & Blue colors of the East Cobb Bullets to the Green & Gold of the Baylor Bears!
