Karissa Hamilton excited to play with and learn from Kayla Kowalik

Indiana Miss Softball Karissa Hamilton is a power hitter who can also hit for average and play multiple positions.

Karissa Hamilton, Indiana’s 2022 Miss Softball, played catcher, third base and center field in high school and that versatility should help her during her freshman season at Kentucky because the Wildcats return all-American catcher Kayla Kowalik.

“I can play anywhere. I am a utility type player. If I was not catching on my travel ball team, I played outfield,” said Hamilton. “I am really excited to play with Kayla and learn from her and see all she can do. I get to play with ‘The Kayla Kowalik.’ I get a whole year with her.”

Hamilton both hits and throws right handed. She ranked as the No. 22 overall player by Extra Innings Softball and the No. 7 catcher in the nation in her recruiting class.

Her junior year she hit .604 with 22 home runs, 55 runs batted-in to her prep all-American honors. As a senior for Shelbyville High School southeast of Indianapolis she hit .526 with 11 homers and 39 RBI’s. She was on base 60 percent of the time as her team went 24-5.

“I got walked more as a senior and I was just happy when teams did pitch to me,” Hamilton said. “I worked really hard to hit for average and home runs. I hit the weight room to get more power but also to hit hard ground ball to get on so we could score more runs. I think it is important to be a power hitter but also hit for average.”

She was not expecting to be named Miss Softball after her numbers dropped from her junior to senior season. She was  happy to be in the top five with some “amazing athletes” and was stunned when she won.

“One of my goals was to get it. It means so much. I am extremely grateful. It was mind blowing,” she said. “When I got that No. 1 jersey it was just so cool.”

Kentucky’s six-game fall schedule starts Sunday with a 1 p.m. game at Eastern Kentucky before the home opener Sept. 23 against Georgetown College at 6 p.m.

Hamilton likely will get a chance to play catcher often during the fall schedule because Kentucky coach Rachel Lawson certainly already knows what Kowalik can do.

“I think one of the things for a catcher is being a leader behind the plate. You see the whole field. You have to know what is going on after every pitch,” she said. “I have learned how important it is to be a leader and take control of the field.”

She takes pride in being able to frame pitches to help her pitchers, especially in tight counts.

“You have to be good at framing to maybe fool the umpire,” Hamilton said. “I know I have a lot to work on and learn at Kentucky.”

Kowalik has exceptional speed for a catcher. Hamilton has also been known to showcase her speed on the base paths.

“I am a pretty quick runner. Lawson said I have the fastest home run trot she has ever seen,” Hamilton said. “Last year in the semi-state first round in the bottom of the eight I hit a home run and it was like a sprint around the bases because I was super excited because it was the first time in school history in any sport my school had advanced out of semi-state. I think I cried.”

Hamilton joins another former Indiana prep star, shortstop Erin Coffel, at Kentucky. Coffel was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Indiana in 2019 and 2020. She has 36 home runs and has knocked in 124 runs in two seasons at UK with a .378 batting average.

“Erin is such a great player. We were in the same (travel ball) organization,” Hamilton said. “I had talked to her a few times and my dad and her dad know each other.”

Hamilton went to her first UK camp when she was in seventh grade and immediately told her parents she wanted to keep going back. She knew her junior year Kentucky is where she wanted to play.

“I just knew deep down inside and I wanted to go to Kentucky and I knew I would bleed blue,” Hamilton said.