Kim Shinnick slapped the softball over the pitcher’s outstretched glove and by the time the second baseman retrieved it, the Bishop Fenwick High School star was speeding past first base for another infield hit.
All told Shinnick had two hits, stole two bases, and scored two runs in the North’s 9-1 victory in the Agganis Softball Classic. Her performance among the best seniors in the area was a final exclamation point to an outstanding athletic career.
The three-sport captain [she also competed in soccer and gymnastics] has been excelling on the diamond for a long time. Lynn fans will remember Shinnick as a member of the Wyoma Little League softball All-Star team that won the state championship and almost advanced to the Little League Softball World Series, finishing fourth in the Northeast Regional in Albany, N.Y.
“When I was little, Paul DeJoie was my coach and he and my father [Ned Shinnick] really taught me how to play softball,” recalled Shinnick. “That was a great time playing for Wyoma. I think the team that eliminated us made it to the World Series.”
A Catholic Central League All-Star and the Fenwick softball MVP, she batted a sizzling .477 in the leadoff position.
“I batted right-handed forever until my junior year when I started slap-hitting,” said Shinnick.
Shinnick has no regrets about taking her talents to Fenwick. There’s no doubt she would have looked great in Classical green and gold atop coach Chris Warren’s potent championship lineup playing alongside her former Wyoma teammates.
“I’ve known the Classical girls since I was little and it would have been fun to play softball with them in high school, but I had a great time at Fenwick,” she said.
Shinnick is playing softball this summer for the New England Storm. She hopes to continue her career at Johnson and Wales, a renowned culinary arts school in Providence.
She said she’s grateful to her family for its support of all of her endeavors.
“I thank my parents for everything – they’ve always been there and helped me, drove me to me practice and always came to my games,” said Shinnick. “I’ve made a ton of friends through softball. It was really fun playing in the Agganis game.”