Center Grove catcher Payton Shimansky nearly has all the directions covered.
The junior’s softball career started out west, located a most comfortable landing spot in the Midwest and will eventually continue east to New York City.
All the while, her reputation continues to trend north.
Shimansky’s family moved here from San Diego prior to the 2018-19 school year as she was entering the eighth grade. She’s evolved into becoming a player in whom Trojans coach Alyssa Coleman has complete confidence.
“She was since Day 1,” said Coleman, laughing. “I think all catchers have a little bit different style. We went from Lexi Fair to Payton, who are two very different humans, but they do some of the very similar fundamentals by cooperating and communicating with their pitchers supremely.
“Payton really filled a hole we thought we might have a struggle with. She was 100% a catcher in my eyes, but I know that she’s going to focus on outfield in college. They are getting a gem, without a doubt.”
“They,” in this case, is Columbia University. As in Ivy League. As in, hey, we’re playing a doubleheader this week against Harvard.
Shimansky, whose father and mother are graduates of UCLA and San Diego State, respectively, has verbally committed to play for the Lions beginning in the spring of 2024.
Given her West Coast roots, Shimansky is stepping out of the batter’s box a bit educationally.
“I think it was Columbia from the minute I stepped on that campus at the very end of my sophomore year,” said Shimansky, who carries a 4.45 grade-point average. “It had been Stanford forever, and then I stepped on Columbia’s campus and I was like, that’s where I want to go.
“I just loved the campus. It was beautiful. There was greenery, and people who looked like they were having a peaceful time. And it’s in a city where there’s so much to do.”
Once in the Big Apple, Shimansky aspires to major in philosophy with the ultimate career objective of becoming a lawyer.
“(Columbia) plays against the other Ivy League schools, so it’s not the SEC (Southeastern Conference) level, but it’s still Division I,” she said. “They play some pretty good competition, like Harvard and Princeton. It will be good because I’ve got a bunch of friends going to the other Ivy League schools, so I’ll get to play them.”
Shimansky, who usually hits somewhere between fifth and seventh in Coleman’s lineup, owns a .261 average with three doubles and three RBIs. She’s recorded two-hit games in victories over Terre Haute South, Brownsburg, Lawrence North and Carmel.
Defensively, the junior has demonstrated a rocket right arm responsible for throwing out potential base stealers against the top two squads in 4A (second-ranked Whiteland and No. 1 Roncalli).
And to think her catching career started as an 8-year-old because teammates were reluctant to put on the protective gear.
“I loved it immediately. It was just something I had a natural talent for, and it became my thing,” said Shimansky, who doesn’t use wins and losses to gauge individual success. “It’s just more how I’ve supported my team, and if I’ve given my full effort.
“Just being a leader on the field because everyone looks to you. You can see the whole field, and your pitcher looks to you for support with every pitch.”
IF YOU GO
Class 4A Mooresville Sectional
Today
Center Grove vs. Mooresville, 6 p.m.
Franklin vs. Greenwood, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Center Grove/Mooresville vs Martinsville, 6 p.m.
Franklin/Greenwood vs. Whiteland, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship, 7 p.m.
Class 3A Owen Valley Sectional
Today
West Vigo vs. Owen Valley, 5:30 p.m.
Northview vs. Indian Creek, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday
West Vigo/Owen Valley vs. Edgewood, 5:30 p.m.
Northview/Indian Creek vs. Brown County, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship, 7 p.m.
Class A Indianapolis Lutheran Sectional
Today
Edinburgh vs. Indianapolis Lutheran, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Greenwood Christian vs. Morristown, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Today’s winner vs. Waldron, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship, 5:30 p.m.
