Ray Finds Her Fit in Clarksville, TN
Kierstyn Ray Commits to the Govs!
Kierstyn Ray, a class of 2027 outfielder from Dyer County High School in Newbern, Tennessee, has announced her verbal commitment to Austin Peay State University. I spoke with Ray a while back and immediately got a strong sense of who she is both as a person and as a player.
Kierstyn spoke with me today and shared her excitement and why Austin Peay stood out.
“I chose Austin Peay because it felt like home automatically, I loved everything about it, and immediately connected with all the coaches! I am so excited to develop as a person and player at APSU! I feel extremely blessed that I get to continue my softball journey while also pursuing my education and preparing for my future career! Go Govs!”
The Austin Peay Govs, led by Coach Kassie Stanfill, continue to grow as a competitive program in the ASUN Conference. The university has fully invested in softball with strong support and ongoing facility upgrades.
Ray also mentioned that her family will be able to watch most of her games with Clarksville being close to home. She maintains a 4.0 GPA, and academics remain a top priority. Austin Peay offers both of her desired majors of Exercise Science and Animal Science.
Ray currently plays travel softball for Fury Premier 2027 Robinson and has put together a strong year. She slashed .400/.437/.495 this summer with 38 hits, five RBIs, and 29 runs scored, along with going a perfect 8 for 8 in stolen base attempts. Defensively, she anchors centerfield and covers her ground well.
Fury Premier’s Head Coach Leah Robinson is excited for Kierstyn and praised her complete makeup as an athlete, teammate, and student.
“I am so happy for KRay. She has worked extremely hard on improving her softball IQ. She knows when to power slap, soft slap, or drop a bunt in order to get on base. Kierstyn loves the game and her teammates. Not only will she excel on the softball field but also excel in the classroom.”
Kierstyn’s play on the field, her academic commitment, and the support around her helped guide her to this moment. She mentioned that she was one of the fortunate ones who received as many as twelve calls on or shortly after September 1 and ended up visiting ten schools across six states in the span of twelve weeks, all while still competing in travel ball.
Kierstyn Ray knows the work is not done, and this is only the beginning. Keep an eye on this 2027 Austin Peay commit over the next couple of years as she continues to grow into an even stronger player. Congratulations to Kierstyn Ray. The Govs are getting a good one.
