Episode 266 is a conversation between the host, Aaron, and his guest, Kami Kortokrax, a Division 1 shortstop athlete from THE Ohio State University. They discuss Kami’s experiences as a student-athlete including her background, her experiences with faith and sporting ambitions, and the challenges and rewards she faced along her journey. Additionally, they discuss the impact of the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) rules on college athletes and Kami’s future plans post-graduation. The conversation also covers Kami’s interaction with fans, her views about the pressure of being a Division 1 athlete, and her passion for softball.
Find Kami on Instagram @Kami.Kortokrax
About Kami from the Ohio State Softball Page.
Follow on Social Media
Twitter: @KamiKortokrax
Instagram: @kami.kortokrax
Ohio State Overview
• Signed her National Letter of Intent in November of 2020
• Is majoring in communication
Honors and Awards
• First Team All-Big Ten (2023)
• Big Ten All-Defensive Team (2023)
• Big Ten All-Freshman Team (2022)
• Big Ten Freshman of the Week (March 21, 2022)
• OSU Scholar-Athlete (2022, 2023)
As a Sophomore (2023)
• Started all 53 games at shortstop and was a first team All-Big Ten selection as well as a member of the league’s All-Defensive team
• Finished the season with a .318 batting average, 32 RBI, 39 runs scored, 15 doubles, seven home runs and a .534 slugging percentage
• Increased her batting average by 35 points and slugging percentage by 210 points from the previous season
• Had a team-high 15 doubles, which was tied for second among all Big Ten players
• Her seven home runs were third-most on the team
• Hit .338 in 23 Big Ten games with five doubles, four home runs and 19 RBI
• Had the go-ahead RBI single in the seventh inning of a 2-1 win at Nebraska (5/5) and a walk-off single to clinch a series win over Rutgers (4/9)
• Hit three home runs and had 11 RBI in a 12-game Spring Break trip March 10-19
• Had a season-best seven-game hitting streak Feb. 25-March 11
• Went 3-for-4 and drove in a career-high four runs in the series-opener at Indiana
As a Freshman (2022)
• One of four players on the roster to start all 53 games
• Hit .283 with 19 RBI, four doubles, one triple and 11 runs scored
• Had nine hits in 18 at-bats, including a double and a triple, during Spring Break to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors on March 21
• Went 2-for-3 with two RBI in a 6-2 series-opening win over Nebraska
• Also drove in two runs in the second game of a doubleheader vs. Maryland
• Thirteen of her 19 RBI on the season came against conference opponents
• Hit .313 with runners in scoring position
More on Kami
• Hit .626 as a senior at Bishop Hartley with six home runs, six triples and 42 RBI
• Garnered first team All-Central Catholic League and all-district laurels three times
• A second team All-District choice by the Columbus Dispatch following her senior season
• Was an All-Ohio honorable mention as a freshman and All-Metro honorable mention as a sophomore
• Named the offensive player of the year for the Hawks as a freshman
• Played club ball for the Beverly Bandits
• Also thrived in basketball as a team captain and secured first team all-league honors three times
• Member of the National Honor Society and an Academic All-Ohio honoree
• Is the daughter of Randy Kortokrax and Mindy Drayer
• Randy set 15 school records while playing basketball at Findlay College and is a coach at Westerville Central
• Mindy was a softball player at Westerville North High School
