Spaulding grad named college softball tourney Most Outstanding Player

"I was surprised, I'm not going to lie," said McLaren, shortly after watching the NCAA Division III tournament selection show with her teammates on Monday, May 11. "I didn't even know (the conference) was giving out an MVP trophy until they started announcing it."

Endicott College's Kylyn McLaren, a 2023 graduate of Spaulding High School, is mobbed by her teammates at home plate after her go-ahead three-run homer in the Conference of New England softball championship over Roger Williams University May 10, 2026.

Even when the public address announcer started listing all the statistics and accomplishments of the upcoming MVP winner, McLaren, a center fielder, still didn't think her name would be announced.

"One of my teammates had similar stats to me and I was like, 'Oh, that's great for her,'" McLaren said. "And then I heard 'center fielder,' and I was like 'no way.' I didn't expect to get the MVP at all. I cried because emotions were running high, and I was in shock. It was such a surreal experience, and I am glad I got it. I worked my butt off to help my team, but I didn't expect to win that."

One person who wasn't surprised by the tourney MVP selection was Endicott head coach Katie Bettencourt.

"What a great moment for her," said Bettencourt, who now has led the Gulls to five NCAA Tournament appearances in her nine years as head coach. "She really struggled offensively the past two years, and was in and out of the lineup. She really turned it around this year, and it's just been phenomenal to see."

McLaren's tournament run to the MVP

Endicott College's Kylyn McLaren, a 2023 graduate of Spaulding High School, reacts after scoring a run May 10, 2026 in the Conference of New England softball championship win over Roger Williams University.

Endicott opened the double-elimination conference tournament on May 7 with a 4-2 win over Hartford, and McLaren went 1-for-3 and homered.

She then laced an RBI double for Endicott in its 2-1 loss on May 8 to Roger Williams, sending the Gulls to the loser's bracket. Facing elimination later that day McLaren went 3-for-4 with four RBIs in Endicott's 13-3 win against Hartford, sending the Gulls to the championship.

Endicott needed two wins against Roger Williams on May 10 to secure the championship. In the first game, McLaren went 0-for-2 and scored the game's only run in the sixth inning.

And in the winner-take-all championship shortly thereafter, McLaren blasted a three-run homer off the top of the left field scoreboard, giving Endicott a 6-5 lead in the fourth. She went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored in Endicott's 7-5 championship win.

"I wish everyone could experience what I experienced, it was one of the best moments of my life," McLaren said. "I feel honored I helped my team as much as I did. I'm glad I could help and contribute because we deserve (this championship) more than any other team. We worked so hard, it's great."

What's next for McLaren and Endicott in NCAA tournament

Endicott College's Kylyn McLaren, a 2023 graduate of Spaulding High School, tracks down a flyball May 10, 2026 in the Conference of New England softball championship game win over Roger Williams University.

The Gulls will face North Atlantic Conference champion Husson University on Thursday, May 14 in the opening game of the four-team, double-elimination regional hosted by Husson. Colby College and MIT are the other two teams. The winner of this four-team pod will advance to the NCAA Super Regional round.

"Husson is a great team," McLaren said. "It's been a while since we played them, but I'm super excited to go to Maine and play against them. I think it'll be a great matchup. I know if we play our best softball, we can beat any team. I'm really excited to play them, I'm looking forward to it."

McLaren made it a point to put in the work going into junior season

Endicott College's Kylyn McLaren, a 2023 graduate of Spaulding High School, is introduced prior to the Sunday, May 10, 2026 Conference of New England softball championship against Roger Williams University.

McLaren would be the first to tell you that her first two years of playing college softball were not up to her standard. She appeared in 17 games as a freshman, batting. 286 with six hits and five RBIs.

In her sophomore season, McLaren appeared in 19 games, batted .194 with seven hits and six RBIs

"I had such a tough season last year," McLaren said. "I came out this year saying 'I am going to play for me, my teammates and do the best I can, and it worked."

The offseason dedication and work McLaren put in showed as she batted .417 with team-highs in RBIs (39) and home runs (seven) this season.

"I get in my head a lot, and I was told freshman year 'be ready, you're going be starting,' and I think that really got to my head," McLaren said. "I was like 'I need to prove myself, I need to do this, I need to do that, I need to be the best I can,' and that didn't not work for my mindset. I was trying to prove myself in the wrong way instead of just going out and playing my game."

Fast forward to her junior season.

"I was like, 'You know what, I'm just going to play my game like I know how to play,'" she said. "I know who I am, I'm going to play for my team, and start playing for myself a little bit. I don't have many years left of this, I needed to start cherishing this moment."

That change in mindset changed her collegiate career.

"I can't believe the person I was last year compared to this year," McLaren said. "I am not even the same person - stats wise and mentally wise. I just took everything out of my head, threw it out the window, and said 'all right, new game plan,' and this is what happened."

McLaren said the support she received from her coaches and teammates were instrumental to her success this season.

"They were like, 'Kylyn, we know how you play, we know you're a good player, you need to get out of your head,'" McLaren said. "I said you're right, you're right. I just needed to get out of my head, and start playing softball the way I know how."

Bettencourt was more than happy to see McLaren's stats this season after the first two seasons.

"Hitting over .400 at any level in college ... is great," Bettencourt said. "I think what surprises people the most has been her power. I don't think, when looking at her, people expect that she has that pop, but man she's strong and has really quick hands and uses her whole body."

Bettencourt first could see the change in McLaren on the team's annual trip to Florida this spring.

"She really started to put good swings on the ball, and stayed really consistent," Bettencourt said. "There were points where she was the only one hitting for us, and she's been super consistent all year long."

McLaren started the season batting ninth in the order.

"She was killing it for us and turning over the lineup, but we needed a little bit more consistency at the top," Bettencourt said. "I made the decision to put her in the No. 5 spot in a game against Tufts."

All McLaren did in Endicott's 11-4 win in that game over Tufts was go 3-for-4, including a double and a homer, and six RBIs.

"Then we just moved her up to No. 3 spot, and she's been there for the past three weeks," Bettencourt said. "She just competes. She has a better understanding of what her strengths are offensively, and what pitch she's looking for. She does a really good job of managing her at-bats and not chasing pitches. She really turned it around this year. I am so happy for her."

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Spaulding grad Kylyn McLaren leads Endicott College softball to NCAAs