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Davis Staying In the Groove

Southeast Missouri State University is taking a phased approach that allows student-athletes and staff to return to campus for practice and competition in the safest manner possible. The Redhawks football team will be the first back on campus Sunday and other student-athletes will voluntarily return over the remainder of the summer.

Former Harrisburg standout Karsyn Davis, a freshman softball player at SEMO, isn't against being on campus this weekend if she could toss around the pigskin, but as a catcher for the Redhawks, Davis is used to taking some hits and has weekend plans anyway.

Davis has been spending the past couple of weekends playing in a college league in Shawnee Kansas, just outside of Kansas City. Davis is playing through the organization called Top Gun and added she enjoys the six hour drive as much as she enjoys meeting new teammates and shaking off the rust.

"It's just fun to meet new girls from different universities. I've played against some of them and it's cool to get to know them and hear their stories from playing. It's also just a good chance to stay fresh and play against other college players. It's been awhile since we all have gotten to play due to COVID, so we're just trying to have fun and shake the rust off."

Davis is the only player from southern Illinois. She plays with her two SEMO roommates Kimmy Wallen and Payteince Holman. Other teammates include players from Purdue, Butler, University of Missouri Kansas City, followed up with a few players from colleges in the area.

"It's been really fun so far," Davis said, "There are about five teams, we play four games a weekend, so it's nice to just get out and swing a bat or throw a softball. My dad (Greg) will usually ride with me and if he can't go, I'll ride with my roommates up there. It's a good time. It's a great experience to meet new people and play against good competition. COVID took away a lot of at bats and time we would've had playing so it's nice to get back into the swing of things and shake the rust off."

<i>Spyder Dann covers prep and college sports for the Southern Illinois LOCAL Media News Group. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.<.i>