1A SOFTBALL: Peedin has been backbone of Bulldogs' defense

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on June 3, 2016 1:48 PM

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PRINCETON -- Imagine for a moment senior Kelsey Peedin is not Princeton's catcher.

Hard to fathom.

But the Bulldogs' field leader quit softball in the second grade after being hit in the head by a ball.

Fortunately, Peedin discovered all of the protection a catcher wears, and top-seeded Princeton is set to face fifth-seeded North Stanly in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A state championship series, which begins today at Dail Softball Stadium in Raleigh.

"My first concussion was when I got hit in the head and I didn't want to play anymore," Peedin said. "I was like, 'well, I'm going to be the one that has all the gear on and be protected'.

"That's how I became a catcher, and then I fell in love with catching."

Four concussions later -- and helmets, mitts, chest guards, shin guards and knee pads -- Peedin suited up behind home plate in 2013 as a freshman.

She led the Bulldogs to the playoffs that year, only to fall in the fourth round to Heide Trask, 2-0. In 2014, Princeton was swept by Whiteville in the eastern regional finals. A year ago, the Dogs fall to Pinetown Northside, 1-0, in the eastern semifinals.

Peedin is hungry for a state title.

The Bulldogs (22-2 overall) defeated Northampton, East Columbus and East Carteret in the first three rounds. They dominated Perquimans, 4-0, to reach the eastern regional finals where they faced none other than Carolina 1-A Conference co-champion North Duplin.

The Rebels handed the Bulldogs their second loss of the season, but Princeton upended North Duplin, 7-0, in the decisive third game of the season.

Now the Bulldogs must get past the Comets -- with help from their energetic catcher. Peedin has played in every softball game this season, has produced no errors and has recorded 227 put outs.

"Once in a while I have a little bit of knee trouble, (but) I like being a catcher because I get to be focused the whole game, the whole time," she said. "I don't have time to think about other things."

One thing Peedin must concentrate on fully is the high-speed launches from senior pitcher Hailey Wood.

Peedin says her relationship with Wood started their freshman year and they've known everything about each other since -- even the pitch Wood is thinking.

"If we're not thinking the same pitch, we'll come together," Peedin said. "We'll talk about which pitch we think will be the best. But we have a really, tight relationship, and I think as a catcher and a pitcher, you got to have a tight relationship and love each other."

Peedin will end her softball career as a Bulldog this weekend and start as an Aggie at North Carolina A&T State University this fall.

"As far as missing her (Peedin) behind the plate, that's big," Princeton head coach Terry Braswell said. "I mean, for four years I haven't had to worry about it."