BEVERLY, Mass. — For Kylyn McLaren, the moment felt like something out of a movie. Standing along the third-base line with her Endicott College softball teammates after clinching the Conference of New England championship on May 10, the 2023 Spaulding High School graduate had no idea she was about to receive the tournament's highest honor.

The top-seeded Gulls had just fought through an incredible comeback, climbing out of the loser's bracket to defeat Roger Williams University twice in one day—first in a nail-biting 1-0 pitcher's duel, then in a 7-5 slugfest. That doubleheader sweep earned Endicott an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament, but the celebration was far from over.

During the post-game ceremonies, the public address announcer began listing the statistics of the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. McLaren, the team's center fielder and No. 3 hitter, listened along with everyone else, certain the accolades belonged to one of her teammates.

"One of my teammates had similar stats to me and I was like, 'Oh, that's great for her,'" McLaren recalled. "And then I heard 'center fielder,' and I was like 'no way.'"

But it was indeed her name being called. McLaren had posted a blistering .467 batting average across five postseason games, collecting seven hits—including two home runs—and driving in a team-high nine RBIs. For a player who had battled through offensive struggles in her first two college seasons, this breakout performance was nothing short of remarkable.

"I didn't expect to get the MVP at all," she said, still processing the honor days later. "I cried because emotions were running high, and I was in shock. It was such a surreal experience. I wish everyone could experience what I experienced—it was one of the best moments of my life."

Endicott head coach Katie Bettencourt, who has now guided the Gulls to five NCAA Tournament appearances in her nine-year tenure, was not surprised by the selection. "What a great moment for her," Bettencourt said. "She really struggled offensively the past two years, and was in and out of the lineup. To see her put it all together and perform on this stage—it's just incredible."

For McLaren, the journey from Spaulding High School star to college tournament MVP is a testament to perseverance. And as she and her teammates now prepare for the NCAA Division III tournament, one thing is clear: this is just the beginning of a story that keeps getting better.