Southern Indiana Living - March / April 2024

Softball has given a lot to her in numerous ways, so she wants to give
back to the game and be able to reach more people with her testimony.
by making movies about his own
congregation. The pastor knew the
story of Katelyn and her family,
and approached Eric first about allowing
him to film a movie about
Katelyn and her journey. At first,
Eric said no. He wasn’t comfortable
with having his mistakes portrayed
on the big screen for all the world
to see. Then they asked Katelyn
about it. She turned them down not
once, not twice, but three times.
She didn’t feel like she particularly
had a story to share.
She said, “I have red hair and
one arm — so what? I play softball. I
felt like there were others that needed
to share their story more than
me and I really didn’t want to be in
that spotlight.” But Pastor Sansom
felt in his heart that this would be
a great story of redemption to inspire
and encourage others, and
that if it brought even one soul to
Christ, that it would be worth it.
When he put it that way, the Paveys
decided they needed to do it. The
movie, titled “I Can,” has been a hit,
initially being shown in select theaters.
It can now be viewed through
streaming on Amazon Prime.
Katelyn started college at Cincinnati
Christian University, then
went to Midway University in Kentucky
and graduated from Kentucky
Christian University with a
master’s degree in Christian Leadership.
She is currently working at
the National Fastpitch Coaches Association
in Louisville and hopes to
stay in the sport of softball in some
capacity — maybe coaching somewhere
or opening her own indoor
facility.
Softball has given a lot to her
in numerous ways, so she wants to
give back to the game and be able
to reach more people with her testimony.
She travels quite a bit doing
motivational speaking, and she also
got married last September.
The movie and all of Katelyn’s
success has been a collective effort
and supported by her parents, Eric
and Salena, and two siblings, Sydney
and Mackenzie. Author and
Christian speaker Joyce Meyer frequently
says, “Let your mess become
your message,” and this family
has done a great job of that.•
Pictured: (top) Katelyn and her dad, Eric; (bottom)
Katelyn batting; (previous page) Katelyn speaking
about I Can, the movie based on her life.
16 • Mar/Apr 2024 • Southern Indiana Living