New Polk State Softball Head Coach Mark Skapin has found his first assistant.
Joining Skapin's Polk State staff will be Sylvia Welsh, pitching coach. Welsh, a local product, began her high school career at Auburndale High School before graduating from Lake Wales High School. A right-handed pitcher, Welsh helped both of her high schools win regional championships.
"As a hometown girl, I know Polk State has all the potential in the world," Welsh said. "I think we can be as good as we want to be."
Welsh, 24, went on to star at Warner University where she compiled a 33-13 record over three seasons with a stellar 2.26 ERA. In 2018, she earned first-team All-Sun Conference honors. She was named Warner's Female Athlete of the Year for 2018-19.
"I'm excited to work with her and for her to be part of this process," Skapin said of his new assistant. "I really believe in what she can do."
After serving as pitching coach at Winter Haven High School for two years, Welsh spent the 2022 season as a graduate assistant at Webber International University before moving on to West Georgia University – an NCAA Division II program – this past fall.
"Bringing in Sylvia was a no-brainer," said Stanley Cromartie, Polk State Athletics Director. "To have a hometown girl and a pitching coach of her caliber, we're very pleased to bring her home and keep this train moving forward."
Although the two have never worked together, Skapin and Welsh have shared the diamond before. When Welsh was at Webber International, the Warriors competed against Skapin's Cottey College program.
"We wanted to make sure our student-athletes continued to have great leadership," Cromartie added. "I think we did that with these two hires."
As is the case with Skapin, who transformed Cottey from an NJCAA doormat to an NAIA national tournament team, Welsh has also won at a high level. In her lone season coaching at Webber, the program won the Sun Conference Tournament, and reached the NAIA World Series. Polk State finished 14-28 last season.
"Overall, I'm here to get girls to where they want to be," Welsh said. "We want to help them improve their game and get them ready to play (NCAA Division I) or D-II."
