Dryden’s Cornell off to Georgian Court for softball

It was a season to remember for the Dryden softball team this spring, celebrating its 50th anniversary with a first IAC divisional title since 1988. This campaign also marked the end of an outstanding career for Kahlen Cornell, one that will only grow stronger in college with another Lions program.

Cornell is taking her many talents on the diamond to New Jersey, as she will be attending Georgian Court University to play Division II softball. Like many college decisions, Cornell felt at home thanks to her future teammates and coaches. 

“It was really just the team dynamic and like the coach dynamic,” Cornell said. “Overall, the girls were really nice and they made you feel welcome. You didn’t feel like a stranger. The coaches expect a lot out of you, which is exactly what I wanted. And the school itself focuses a lot on academics and has a lot of academic opportunities along with the great softball program.”

Over the past few years, Georgian Court has established itself as one of the top teams in Division II. The Lions won the Central Atlantic Athletic Conference (CACC) in 2021 and 2022 and were in the final this spring. They’ve also made it to the NCAA Tournament for the past four seasons (excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season). While it’s not decided yet if Cornell will be a pitcher or a hitter, she still aims to make an impact in some way as a freshman.

“I really hope to get time on the mound and cheer on my teammates and everything,” Cornell said. “I’m really excited to be a part of that team dynamic and get the chance to keep them going.”

Cornell’s love for the sport began all the way back in second grade when her mother Diedre started coaching Cornell and her friends in Little League. The journey to college softball has been a long one for Cornell, which included multiple pitching coaches and a change in scenery after moving from Spencer to Dryden in seventh grade. Once she got to the varsity team, the rest was history—quite literally.

Most of Cornell’s illustrious accomplishments were earned this spring. She won the IAC North Large Division MVP for the second straight year, surpassed 400 career strikeouts, and threw a pair of no-hitters. This culminated in an All-State Third Team selection, becoming the first player in program history to garner all-state honors. It’s the result of all the hard work she’s put into her craft, particularly her pitching.

“In my personal game, my mentality has improved a lot [in] being strong in the mind, having confidence and having confidence to push through everything,” Cornell said. “As a team, [it’s] knowing that there’s a team behind me. A lot of high school teams don’t always feel that way. This year, I definitely felt more confident that if a ground ball gets hit to the infield, we’re going to be able to make the play and get out of it.”

That confidence also translated to the batter’s box. At one point, Cornell was hitting above .800 this season. Her dominance in the circle may grab more of the headlines, but she’s turned into a productive two-way player.

“This year I felt so confident in the box,” Cornell said. “When most people get in the box, they want to walk or they just want to hit. I just wanted to see the ball well.”

In an earlier story this year about Dryden softball, head coach Dave Allen described Cornell as a “workhorse.” That mindset is something Cornell takes great pride in and applies to whatever sport she’s playing, including volleyball and basketball.

“I want to do what I can to make every team that I play for the best that we can all be,” Cornell said. “You have to individualize things, so I had to visualize myself outside of practice to make myself feel good for the next game. I want everybody else to do the same thing, so then once we get to the game, we’re prepared. There’s no excuse not to be prepared.”

One player who has been alongside Cornell in all three sports is Ava Henry. Ever since Cornell moved to Dryden, the duo have been a force to be reckoned with both on the court and on the diamond.

“She’s been my best friend since I started coming to school here,” Cornell said. “We get to strive off of each other. A lot of people have been calling us the ‘Twin Towers’ for basketball season, and I think it’s really funny because we called ourselves that since we were little. Nobody knew about it, and then people started calling us that this year.”

With so many memories made throughout her time with the Lions, it’s fitting that Cornell’s favorite one was team-related: the win over Southern Cayuga that clinched their first divisional title in 35 years. Pairing that triumph with her countless individual accolades, one thing’s for sure: Kahlen Cornell will go down as one of the greatest softball players in Dryden and Tompkins County history.