Seymour's Koeneman powers his way to LSU

Kyle Koeneman showed up swinging for the fences as a freshman at Seymour High School.

Six years later and he's still slugging away.

Koeneman has swung his way from the baseball field at Seymour to Walters State to, starting next season, LSU.

"They have the No. 1 program in the nation right now," said Koeneman, who signed with LSU last month. "Their facilities are amazing. The coaching is top of the line."

Koeneman, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound first baseman, also had an offer from Vanderbilt, but Walters State's all-time career leader in home runs chose Baton Rouge.

"He's hit home runs at every level that he's been at," Walters State coach Ken Campbell said. "I don't expect that to change when he gets to LSU. I feel LSU will be very pleased with him.

There's a remote chance Koeneman could skip LSU altogether.

The Major League Baseball draft starts Tuesday. If Koeneman is drafted and the price is right, he's gone.

"If I get the money I want I'll probably take it," Koeneman said. "But if not then I'll just go to LSU and do good down there."

Campbell said Koeneman "will be drafted by somebody surely."

Koeneman said he's had conversations with a few scouts but "hasn't heard anything about where I might go."

Coming out of Seymour in 2007, Koeneman didn't have the options he has now.

Koeneman hit a state-leading 18 home runs as a freshman and finished his high school career with 50. Still, nobody came courting.

"(Tennessee) had sent me some letters in high school," Koeneman said, "but I never talked to them or anything like that since then."

Koeneman took his bat and went to Walters State.

"It was the only option really," Koeneman said. "They had a good program and had been to the (Junior College) World Series a few times and won it."

Campbell was somewhat surprised Koeneman didn't receive more interest.

"He was a little heavier out of high school," Campbell said. "He's trimmed down since he got to us. But yes, I was surprised nobody else was trying to get him out of high school."

Koeneman hit a single-season school record 29 home runs as a freshman to help the Senators to a 55-9 record and No. 2 ranking national ranking in the final regular season poll.

Koeneman was Walters State's second leading hitter this past season with a .385 average. He started all 57 games for the Senators (46-11) and had 69 hits, including 25 doubles and 21 home runs.

Koeneman leaves Walters State as the Senators' career home run leader with 50.

"It means a lot to me," said Koeneman, who was named the NJCAA All-East Central District team both years. "I came up here expecting to do good but not expecting to break any records or anything like that. Going to Walters State and being able to do that means a lot to me."

Koeneman also was named NJCAA Region VII Defensive Player of the Year with a .990 fielding percentage.

"He's an excellent fielder and good first baseman," Campbell said. "He scoops a lot out of the dirt to help our infielders out."

Campbell said he hates to see Koeneman go.

"He's had a tremendous two years for us," Campbell said. "One of the best power hitters that we've had at Walters State.

"Not only is he a good baseball player but he's a good student and a good person as well."

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!