Confident Emiley Kennedy enters junior campaign in leadership role

Trisha Ford and the Fightin’ Texas Aggie softball team return to Davis Diamond on Friday to open the 2024 season with the Aggie Classic. We’re looking ahead to the upcoming season with our 2024 Texas A&M Softball Preview Series.

Veteran left-hander Emiley Kennedy is back for her third season at Texas A&M in 2024.

Throughout her time in Aggieland, Kennedy has developed a strong perspective about her game.

Her confidence and willingness to be prepared may even set her up for more success this spring.

“I have a mentality that I'm going to prove somebody wrong,” Kennedy said. “You tell me I can't do it, I'm going to go out and do it, and I think that's why I play softball now.”

What started as a personal challenge evolved into a passionate commitment to the game.

“It's just because I've had a lot of doubters in my life, and it's helped me push through,” Kennedy said “I love the game.”

That passion and mindset appear to make a huge impact on the way she performs, but it always hasn’t been that way.

“My freshman year was kind of a rude awakening to the SEC,” Kennedy said. “I kind of got thrown off a cliff, but I've grown into being able to mentally handle adversity when I first wasn't able to.

“Mentally, I can handle anything thrown at me now, and I can handle any challenges.”

Kennedy's commitment to growth is evident in her approach to each season. By choosing to see failure as an opportunity, she continues to enhance her mentality.

“I rely on my own personal strength when it comes to games,” Kennedy said. “I can beat most people with what I'm good at. I think my best is better than most people's best, so if I just stay within myself and do what I have to do to be successful, then I'll be successful.”

The veteran's new leadership position could influence the dynamics of A&M’s 2024 squad as the Aggies again face an incredibly competitive SEC. What sets Kennedy apart as a leader is her acknowledgment that her role extends beyond personal accomplishments.

She doesn’t just play for herself, but rather her entire team.

“They look up, and they're like if she keeps fighting and she's trying to keep us in the game, then they'll fight for me,” Kennedy said. “So we have each other's backs. If I continue to do my job and get out so I can keep us in the game, they’ll do the same.”

Not only do her teammates view her as an important role model, but so does coach Trisha Ford.

“Now my junior year coach Ford's like, ‘I want you to be the leader on the team. I want you to be the person the team relies on,’” Kennedy said. “So it's just like putting that on my shoulders, and it's not just me. I'm not just playing on the field for me. It's for the entire team.”

Making 41 appearances as a freshman, Kennedy started 20 games, with her debut coming against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Feb. 11. She pitched only one inning and struck out two.

The next day, she came back stronger with seven strikeouts in five innings.

Chris Swann, TexAgs

After one season with Ford, Kennedy lowered her ERA from 3.77 in 2022 to 3.18 in 2023.

The next week, she pitched seven innings against Missouri State on Feb. 18 and allowed just one run.

Almost one year later – during her sophomore season – she pitched another complete game against Arizona and also only allowed one run.

Kennedy has shown her consistency through her plays. During her 2022 and 2023 seasons, she completed a total of 110 strikeouts each year.

Through two seasons, she has logged 259.2 innings and a career 2.72 ERA.

If she continues to develop, Kennedy is aware of the spotlight that will follow as a veteran standout pitcher.

Still, that does not stop her from keeping her main focus.

“When I'm on the mound, I stay between the white lines,” Kennedy said. “Everything else is a blur. I don't hear the other team. I don't hear opponents.

“I think it's good because their chants don't get in my head. I'm just locked in with me and my catcher and my teammates.”

When asked about her favorite pitch, she has a clear-cut No. 1.

“I would say my changeup,” Kennedy said. “It's taken me my entire career to figure it out, so now that I have it, I'm excited to throw it.”

Now confident with an off-speed pitch, “Lefty” has some big goals she hopes to accomplish by the end of the season.

“My personal goal is to make the SEC all-region team, maybe an All-American,” Kennedy said. “That‘s been my life goal my entire career, and I think this year I have a really good shot at it. Just because this year everything has come together, and I'm the best I've ever been this year.”

With the attitude she has, it seems her goals may be closer to being achieved.