It was during Campbell Kline’s junior year at Severna Park High that her teammate told her about a volunteer opportunity at St. Vincent de Paul, a Baltimore-based nonprofit dedicated to serving the poor. Though her decision to volunteer was initially motivated by her need to fulfill her required National Honor Society service hours, Kline’s commitment didn’t end there.
Even after her service requirement was completed, Kline, along with several Severna Park basketball teammates, would drive up to Baltimore and spend an evening feeding the homeless.
“We would go up there every now and then to help out and get to know everybody,” says Kline, who will be playing softball at the University of Maryland on a scholarship next season. “I like to do things for the community because it makes me feel good, and it makes others around me feel good.”
The 18-year-old also helped her church, Our Lady of the Fields, facilitate a holiday family gift program. She’s volunteered with The Lighthouse Shelter in Annapolis, helped coordinate a softball equipment drive for Marley Elementary School, and coached young athletes through Severna Park’s annual Pitch, Hit and Run competition.
Kline’s kindhearted spirit seems to be evident in all aspects of her life. Meredith McAlister, head coach of the Falcons’ varsity softball team and assistant coach of the girls’ varsity basketball team, recalls a specific instance when Kline almost sat out a basketball game because she was helping a teammate. “She gave up her [basketball] uniform shorts before a big game against South River because another player had forgotten hers,” McAlister says. “She wouldn’t tell us who she was covering for, [but she found out we] had a spare set, so she didn’t have to sit out. She is a phenomenal kid.”
Kline’s charisma and compassion immediately caught the attention of Maryland Softball Coach Julie Wright. “The first thing I look at when recruiting student-athletes is their character, and [Kline] is top notch,” the coach says. “Her character is among the highest of any athlete I have ever recruited. She is an excellent student and takes pride in everything she does. For me, she is the epitome of what a student-athlete should be.”
Kline began playing softball at just three years old and quickly fell in love with it. Her dedication has made her a standout player. The 5-foot-7 shortstop graduated from Severna Park in May with a career batting average of .621. She was named the Anne Arundel County Softball Player of the Year in 2017 and 2018, was a three-time first team All-County selection, and was named the 2018 Gatorade Maryland Softball Player of the Year. Last year, she set a state record with69 hits in a season.
In the fall, Kline will be taking her talents to the University of Maryland where she is expected to be a strong addition to the Terps’ softball program.
“She is a talented athlete, and I know this about her: She is going to work hard, and she is going to grow on a daily basis,” Wright says. “Given all those things combined, she definitely has a chance to start [playing] right away.”
“She is so talented that we’ve had two separate male sports coaches offer for Campbell to come play for them,” McAlister says. “She sacrificed everything to earn what she has accomplished, but she does it for the love of the game and an inner determination to give everything she has.”
Kline graduated Severna Park with a 3.8 weighted grade point average, was a member of the National Honor Society, and exceled in various honors and advanced placement courses. She plans to study criminal justice at Maryland and pursue a career as a criminal profiler. As she gears up for her freshman year, Kline says she’s excited about everything Maryland has to offer and is grateful for those who helped get her to this point.
“My coaches have helped me through a lot of stuff, whether on or off the field,” Kline says. “They really formed me into the player I am today and helped me out throughout my whole softball career, and I’m really thankful for them.”
