Houston high school softball standout to continue career at USM
HOUSTON, Miss. (BVM) 鈥� Since her freshman year, Paige Kilgore has suited up for Houston High School softball. In 2020, Kilgore鈥檚 hard work and dedication to the sport paid off. She became the first-ever Houston Hilltopper to be awarded the Gatorade Mississippi Softball Player of the Year and has committed to Southern Mississippi.聽
鈥淗onestly, for my whole life basically, since I was six years old, it鈥檚 been my whole life,鈥� Kilgore said. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 come before God or my family, but I mean, it鈥檚 what I live and breathe, it鈥檚 taught me many life lessons, and I鈥檓 thankful for it.鈥�
Standing at 5-foot-10, Kilgore was also named the best player in Mississippi by MaxPreps before her junior season started. Without a doubt, she lived up to the hype. Kilgore helped propel the Hilltoppers to an 11-0-1 start before their season was shut down due to the pandemic.聽
鈥淲e were on a great track as a team,鈥� Kilgore said. 鈥淚t [last season] felt great, and I鈥檓 excited for this year, [and for] what this year brings. Hopefully, we can pick up right where we left off.鈥�
Before the season was shut down, Kilgore had a 7-0 record as a starting pitcher, with a 0.43 ERA. During those 12 games, Kilgore also struck out 94 batters in 49 innings of work. Not only was Kilgore a force from the circle, but she was also a feared batter as she had a batting average of .457 and a slugging percentage of .886.
鈥淧aige is an extremely hard worker and has impeccable command of her pitches,鈥� said her summer ball coach Dale Palmer in a . 鈥淪he is also a very strong and durable player. She seems to get better every inning, and her power gives her tremendous pop at the plate.鈥�
Along with her hard work on the diamond, Kilgore has also put in the time off the field. Maintaining a 4.12 GPA, Kilgore is at the top of her game when it comes to academics. She also has dedicated her time to coaching youth softball and has done a multitude of volunteer work.聽
Working hard on and off the field led Kilgore to receive offers from many schools, but one college stood out among the rest: the University of Southern Mississippi.
鈥淚 really fell in love with Southern [during] my ninth grade year [when] I started going to camp there,鈥� Kilgore said. 鈥淭he atmosphere, that family feeling of the campus, it鈥檚 just something I want to be a part of. I love the city of Hattiesburg. I can鈥檛 wait to be down there.鈥�
https://twitter.com/PaigeKilgore/status/1290468881711149062
Kilgore is set to join a program that has gone 52-32 overall in the past three seasons (8-2 currently). The Golden Eagles softball team is led by head coach Brian Levin who was hired in 2019. He has turned around the program after the team finished with an overall record of 19-36 in 2018.聽
Second signee 鉁�
鈿笍 2020 Mississippi Player of the Year
鈿笍2020 Max Preps 鈥淏est Player In Mississippi鈥�
鈿笍2019 Clarion Ledger All-State TeamWelcome to Golden Eagle Nation,
SMTTT 馃
— Southern Miss Softball (@SouthernMissSB)
Kilgore will look to help the Golden Eagles continue their recent success when she reaches campus this fall. But for now, she鈥檒l remain in the place that has always had a special place in her heart: Houston, Miss.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 the school I鈥檝e gone to since I was in kindergarten,鈥� Kilgore said. 鈥淸Being able to] represent my home town is good. It鈥檚 exciting!鈥�
Huge Congrats, , on signing with !
— Houston Hilltoppers (@houstontoppers)
