Reporting for duty
Indiana Tech recruit Rosado chasing Kankakee Valley’s HR mark before joining the National Guard
Carmen Rosado will play softball at Indiana Tech. But that’s not the Kankakee Valley senior’s next destination.
Rosado will report to the campus in Fort Wayne next year — after fulfilling two National Guard obligations. In July, she will start 16 weeks of basic training and advanced individual training.
“What really caught my attention was they’ll pay for the rest of my college,” she said of her National Guard commitments. “I was talking with a friend who was in it, and he thought I’d enjoy it because I’m an athlete and I could handle it. Then I went to my first drill, and I really did like it.”
With that long-term plan set, Rosado can focus on her final high school season, and she has one specific individual goal in mind.
“I’m shooting for the school home run record this season,” she said.
Rosado, an outfielder and pitcher, hit five home runs last year, tied for the team lead. Kankakee Valley’s single-season record is nine.
She also hit .319 with 15 RBIs. But she was particularly productive over the last 11 games, hitting .424 as the Kougars reached a Class 3A semistate championship game.
Rosado led or was near the top of every offensive category for Kankakee Valley but thinks she can do even better.
“I started coming around at the end of my junior year,” she said. “It wasn’t my best hitting season because I was in my head a lot.”
Rosado said she believed she was doing something wrong that kept her from getting time in the circle. But that wasn’t the case. It was just that Mary Kate Shultz was the staff ace.
Rosado is ready to take on more pitching responsibilities following Shultz’s graduation but also understands she can contribute in different ways.
“This season I’m going in with the mindset that I play outfield and I’m a pitcher,” Rosado said, emphasizing the word “and.”
Kankakee Valley coach Amanda Suarez pointed to Rosado’s steady improvement since she arrived as a freshman.
“It just comes down to this: She hasn’t stopped working,” Suarez said. “She’s continued to develop as a player in all areas.”
Suarez said Rosado also brings an infectious energy to the Kougars, lifting teammates’ spirits during practice or between innings.
“She has a big personality and adds a lot of character to our team,” Suarez said. “She’s always the one dancing around in the dugout or at practice. She’s kind of like our hype man.”
Rosado is hyped about chasing a record too.
“I feel like this year is going to be a lot better,” she said.