Kyla Garrison’s Early-Morning Work Set Path For Success

There is a group of former high school students in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania who wouldn't be surprised by the success Kyla Garrison is experiencing in the circle. Each morning when she was younger, Garrison would be out in her front yard throwing pitches to her dad as the students walked by on their way to the bus stop. The smack of the ball hitting the glove echoed as the sun was just beginning to rise and the dew was fresh on the grass.

Garrison wanted to get more time pitching for her travel team. Her dad knew only one way to make that happen.

“A lot of times if kids aren't starting, parents move them to a different team. But I didn't do that. I kept her on the same team and just said to work harder,” said Rob Garrison, a former college football player. “Kyla had a lot of adversity, but she always fought and she never, ever gave up. I knew that she needed to go through that at an early age because that would help her as she got older and got to college.”

Garrison, a 2026 recruit who plays for Philadelphia Spirit 18U, will be taking that step in a few months. The right-hander has signed to play for Howard University under head coach Tori Tyson. 

“I committed kind of early. I wasn't really waiting for any other offers,” Garrison said. “I really like the school and the people and the coaching. Coach Tori is a really, really good coach, and I wanted to go there because it's an HBCU and it has good energy.”

Garrison started playing softball in the third grade while also participating in swimming, soccer, basketball, and gymnastics. She tried several positions, but gravitated toward pitching. Her coach had a sign-up sheet for anyone who wanted to volunteer to pitch and she put her name down.

“I don't even know why I wanted to be a pitcher in the first place. It just sounded fun,” said Garrison, who also plays outfield. “You are always touching the ball and have more control of the game than in other positions, and I guess I really like that aspect of it.”

Her dad made a deal with Garrison when she was 10 that if she threw a no-hitter, he would take her on a shopping spree at Toys "R" Us. In her first game in the circle after the bet, she threw a no-hitter. Garrison celebrated by getting a Hatchimal Egg and a giant stuffed animal. 

Garrison has kept accumulating milestones. She recently reached 700 career strikeouts to set the record for Upper Dublin High. The first game of her senior season this year was an 18-strikeout no-hitter while going 3-for-3 at the plate. Garrison, a two-time second-team all-state selection and two-time team MVP, helped the 2023 Upper Dublin team reach the school's first-ever PIAA state playoff game and was the starting pitcher in the win.

“Kyla is a very introverted person and she never shows emotion on the mound. She's always the same, whether she's killing it or getting beat up. She's like a robot,” her dad said. “But the thing about her is that she just puts in the work no matter what happens.”

Garrison has considered studying business or architecture at Howard. She will soon be working with an interior designer through a community study program at her school before she graduates. Garrison has taken art all four years of high school, including AP 2-D Art and Design this year, and is building a portfolio.

“I do love art,” she said. “Recently, I've been making a bunch of portraits with oil paint. That's been really fun. That's probably my favorite medium right now.”

Garrison's short-term goal is to reach 800 strikeouts for her high school team. She has two younger brothers, Trey and Drew. Trey, a freshman, plays football, and Drew, an eighth grader, plays basketball and baseball. Drew occasionally serves as Garrison's catcher, and she has used her dad's method of offering incentives for his help.

“We bribe him with chicken,” she said with a laugh. “If we go to a pitching lesson, we tell him that we will get food after at Raising Cane's or Dave's Hot Chicken if he will catch for me.”