Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

BUCHANAN — The Buchanan softball team will enter the 2024 season with a pair of players having signed Division I national letters of intent.

One of them is pitcher Hailee Kara, who went 20-3 for the Bucks last season with an ERA of 1.29. Kara, who will attend Western Michigan University to continue her academic and athletic career, had 155 strikeouts.

Kara, the daughter of Bob and Tammy Kara, was named All-Lakeland Conference, as well as, Division 3 All-District, Regional and first-team All-State for the Bucks.

Kara hit .504 for Buchanan with 54 RBIs.

“When I stepped on campus at Western Michigan I knew right away, I felt like it was home instantly,” Kara said. “The coaches are so welcoming, encouraging, and it was so clear how much they care about you as a person first and athlete second. Another thing is the culture of this program it’s so family oriented and they truly care about your experience as a Bronco while playing the sport you love and getting a degree. The education side is amazing. There are tons of benefits of studying criminal justice at WMU and they have a top-notch support staff for all student athletes.”

Kara said that throughout the recruiting process, she took it as it came, using her play to do the talking for her.

“I would go out on the weekends and play the best I could to hopefully draw more attention while following up with the coaches that came,” she said. “Being a pitcher and getting recruited at any level is difficult because it comes down to truly what that college coach needs and is looking for. I was looking at more Mid-American Conference schools I have never wanted to be far from home so distance was extremely important to me during this process.”

The Buchanan senior said she will be majoring in criminology and minoring in psychology.

“Being an athlete, it’s always go-go-go, so this profession absolutely fits my personality, but I have genuinely always loved the questions and the thought process behind crimes/criminals and you will catch me up at midnight watching datelines on the weekends,” she said.