Kelli Zomer was one of the most dynamic and exciting players in the history of Rhodes Softball, with a unique blend of speed and power that allowed her to impact the game in multiple ways. This rare blend of talents made her not only one of the best players in Rhodes history, but one of the top offensive players in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC), earning a place on the SCAC 30th Anniversary team.
Kelli arrived at Rhodes in the fall of 2008 as a walk-on member of a heralded recruiting class, making the decision to attend Rhodes without ever stepping foot on campus. In her Lynx debut, she batted leadoff, singling and scoring in her first two plate appearances, including a bunt single. In her SCAC debut later that season, she helped propel the Lynx to a 9-0 win over rival Centre, with a triple off the right field wall in her first at bat. She followed that up with a bunt single and stolen base in her second at bat, scoring both times. She started all 41 games in her freshman season, batting in the leadoff position every game and helping the 2009 Lynx set the school record for wins with a 29-12 season and a runner-up finish at the SCAC Championships.
The small but explosive Kelli finished her freshman campaign with a .384 batting average, while leading the team in runs scored, triples, home runs, total bases, and stolen bases. In that season, she was named to the All-SCAC First Team and Second Team All-Region as a second baseman, while also starting games in the outfield and at catcher.
Kelli finished her storied career with a .359 batting average, 15 triples, and 22 home runs, leading the team in home runs in two of her four seasons, in triples every season, and in stolen bases three times. She is Rhodes’ career leader in triples, third in runs scored, fourth in home runs, and fourth in walks. In her entire four years, the speedy Kelli was thrown out stealing only four times.
Kelli was a four-time All-SCAC selection, earning a spot on the First Team in 2009 and 2010. She led the SCAC in home runs in 2009 and in triples in 2010 and finished in the Top 6 all-time in both statistical categories, with her 15 career triples ranking her second in SCAC history.
During her time at Rhodes, the Lynx posted 98 wins and tied for the most wins of any four-year period in program history, including the school-record 29 wins during her freshman season.
In recognition of Kelli Zomer as one of the most versatile, dynamic, and exciting players in Rhodes Softball history, we are honored to induct her into the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame on this 2nd day of November, 2024.
