SEWARD, Neb. – Grand Island Northwest High School standout Mikaela Keene is set to play in Wednesday’s Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star Game. Keene will join head coach Todd LaVelle’s softball program this fall. The 11th annual all-star game will be held at the University of Nebraska’s Bowlin Field at 4 p.m.
“We are very excited to get Mikaela in a Bulldog uniform, not only because of her talents as a player, but also what she will bring to our team,” LaVelle said. “Her love and desire to play the game is unbelievable, making her a great addition for CU softball.”
Listed as a third baseman on the ‘Red Team,’ Keene is one of 24 graduating Nebraska high school seniors selected to play in the all-star game. As a senior, the Grand Island native earned all-state for Nebraska Class B (fourth career all-state honor) from the Lincoln Journal Star and was named the Grand Island Independent’s Heartland Softball Super Squad honorary captain. Her senior season also saw Keene bat .497 and go a perfect 49-for-49 on stolen base attempts.
“She’s ready to play at that (NAIA) level,” Northwest head softball coach Dave Prokesh told the Grand Island Independent in October 2014. “That challenge will be good for her. I think she could have gone on to any level she would have liked, but I think (Concordia) will be a good fit for her.”
The four-time first team all-conference honoree will be welcomed into a Bulldog softball program that has reached the opening round of the national tournament two-straight seasons. Concordia won the 2015 GPAC tournament title.