Kayla Chavez

Photo by: Brad Rempel

Photo by: Kelly Lynn

Photo by: Angela Wang

Class:
Sophomore
Height:
5-6
High School:
Chino Hills HS
Hometown:
Chino Hills, Calif.

PRONUNCIATION

2025 | SENIOR
• Started all 47 games she appeared in
• Finished fourth on the team in hits (30) and batting average (.236)
• Drove in a season-high three runs in a win against Penn State (March 15)
• Scored game-winning run against Long Beach State (Feb. 23)

2024 | JUNIOR
• Recorded a season high three hits in the Big Ten quarterfinal against Nebraska (May 3)
• Had three hits and scored two runs in a win over No. 10 Clemson (March 7)
• Scored two runs and had six assists against Ohio State (April 6)
• Went 2-for-3 against North Texas, driving in four runs (February 23)
• Assisted Minnesota’s defense to second overall in the country in turning double plays per game

2023 | SOPHOMORE
NFCA Great Lakes All-Region Third Team
All-Big Ten First Team
All-Big Ten Tournament Team
• Co-led Minnesota with a .342 batting average
• Recorded a milestone 100 career hits against McNeese State (May 19) in the NCAA Tournament at the Seattle Regional
• Had at least one hit in 22 of Minnesota’s last 25 games
• Led Minnesota in at-bats (202), hits (69), and total bases (119)
• Finished the season with two walk off home runs against Central Michigan (March 10) and Penn State (March 31)

2022 | FRESHMAN
Big Ten All-Defensive Team (only B1G freshman to earn the honor in 2022)
• Appeared in all 54 games in her first collegiate season and earned the starting nod 51 times at third base
• Tied for fourth on the team recording a .281 batting average and added a .350 on-base percentage with a .375 slugging percentage
• Finished the year with just one error in 130 chances for a .992 fielding percentage totaling 86 assists and 43 putouts
• Recorded a single in her first college game versus No. 12 Georgia (Feb. 11)
• Tallied a season-best three RBI at Texas Mar. 13, all of which came on her first collegiate home run, and added three RBI in an elimination game of the NCAA Norman Regional against Texas A&M (May 21)
• Posted her lone triple of the year during opening weekend versus Fresno State (Feb. 13) and hit four total doubles
• Closed the season with 17 runs scored, 16 RBI and 10 walks
• Put together eight multi-hit games and had a nine-game streak of reaching base safely between Feb. 19 and Mar. 6
• Registered a season high of five assists in back-to-back games against Maryland (Apr. 23 & 24)

HIGH SCHOOL
• Graduate of Chino Hills High School
• No. 31 ranked player in the 2021 recruiting class by Extra Innings Softball
• Earned MaxPreps All-American status her sophomore year and is a two-time all-state and all-conference selection
• Hit .562 and had six home runs in 10 games during the COVID-shortened season as a junior in 2020
• Batted .421 and had 13 home runs during her sophomore campaign
• Led her teams to conference championships in both her freshman and sophomore seasons
• Named CalHi Sports 1st Team All-State, Daily Bulleting All-Area 1st Team and Inland Express Girls Athlete of the Year
• National Champion of the 18U Tier 1 Alliance National Championship Tournament
• Played club softball with current Minnesota teammate Emily Leavitt

PERSONAL
• Daughter of Amanda and Rudy Chavez
• "Coach Piper, Coach Wynn, and Coach Rich were the No. 1 reason I chose the University of Minnesota. They really made me feel like part of the Gopher family from day one. That was a huge factor in choosing to become part of the family. In addition, I will receive a great education and get to play Division I ball. It's a dream come true."