'Unreal' stretch showcases Shea O'Neil's improved power for Williamston softball

Shea O'Neil.

Shea O'Neil experienced success during her first two seasons playing on the Williamston varsity softball team.

And that success led to the junior thinking big for her third season on varsity.

O'Neil set a personal goal of ending this season as an all-state selection.

That goal could very well be in reach for the first baseman if she keeps performing at a high level for the Hornets.

O'Neil, who was voted the LSJ girls athlete of the week, has boosted her play this spring and helped Williamston win seven of its last 10 games. Her recent hot streak has fueled the Hornets' recent success. O'Neil had six home runs over a week stretch, which included two multi-homer performances.

O'Neil had a two-run homer and a grand slam in the same inning against St. Johns on May 5. She followed with homers in back-to-back innings against Lansing Catholic on May 7, hitting a grand slam before following with a three-run home run.

"It was kind of unreal, I'm not going to lie," O'Neil said. "That's the one emotion I felt was unreal. I felt like every time I went up to bat it was an unreal experience. When I hit two in the same inning, I went up there trying to get a hit, get on base. I just want to do something good for my team and I hit a home run. It felt amazing. Then I came back with the bases loaded in the same inning and I hit a home run again. It was just an unreal, out of body experience."

The hot stretch has helped O'Neil double her home run total from her sophomore season. O'Neil hit four home runs in 2025 but is up to eight through May 13 games while hitting .542 for the Hornets. O'Neil credits her offseason work for the improved power.

"I was really trying to work on getting better," O'Neil said. "I've always tried to progress my numbers, so to be able to double (my home runs), and my season is not even over, is just amazing. It's so much hard work and dedication to hitting and focusing on the little things that I do."

Williamston coach Lindsey McKeever said O'Neil has come into her own this season while emerging as a leader on and off the field.

"She works really hard in the offseason," McKeever said. "She really cares about softball. She really loves softball and she wants to be the best she can be and she works really hard to get better each and every day. I couldn't be prouder of her for that and for her commitment to the game and to our team."