O-R Athlete of the Week: Kylie Sinn, Carmichaels

Name: Kylie Sinn
School: Carmichaels
Class: Sophomore
Sport: Softball
Sinn’s week: Sinn had an outstanding week in the circle, pitching 15 innings without allowing a run. The Mikes beat Beth-Center, 10-0, to open the week and followed with a 20-0 win over Avella in five innings.
Sinn capped the week with a five-inning no-hitter against California in a 15-0 victory. Sinn struck out 24 batters and allowed five hits over the three games.
Her offensive output was just as impressive, going a combined 8-for-12 with 2 home runs and 12 RBI.
“She’s gotten better and better and better,” said Mikes head coach Dave Briggs. “She’s just taken to it.”
Briggs made the decision to make Sinn his starting pitcher at midseason last year, switching senior Laura Walker to Sinn’s spot at second base. The move worked as Sinn pitched the Mikes to the WPIAL and PIAA Class A playoffs.
“I have to admit, it was a little nerve wracking,” Sinn said of taking over the starting pitching duties. “(All-state player) Megan Walker is the best catcher anyone can ask for. She makes me look really, really good.”
Sinn relies on off-speed pitches and a sneaky-quick fastball. The key for her is to keep the softball off the barrel of the opponent’s bat and trust the defense to make plays.
She has a 10-5 record with a 1.75 ERA and has 104 strikeouts in 84 innings. At the plate, Sinn is hitting .469 with 2 home runs and 19 RBI.
“Her control and mixing speeds are what she does best,” Briggs said. “She is still pretty young but you can see she is getting more physical.”
A full plate
Sinn took up softball in fourth grade and has played soccer for nearly as long.
When she reached varsity, she was faced with a dilemma because Carmichaels doesn’t have a soccer program. Fortunately, Carmichaels has a co-op for soccer with Waynesburg.
Sinn played forward on Waynesburg’s WPIAL championship team last fall and Briggs says she was probably the Raiders’ second-best player behind Pitt commit Madison Clayton.
Naturally, Sinn gets asked what sport she likes best. She has an answer.
“I like them both the same,” she said. “I’d like to play both in college, if I have that option.”
Sinn played club soccer until the 2014 season and is a member of Carmichaels basketball team.
“She is a really good athlete,” Briggs said. “And she is just going to get better.”