VALDOSTA — When Kristina Ely steps up to the plate, a home run is always a definite possibility.

Last month, Ely set Valdosta State’s home run record, when she blasted her 18th homer of the season in a 10-2 victory over West Georgia at the VSU Softball Complex.

Now, she’s shooting for what she really wants: a national championship.

Ely will lead the Valdosta State softball team into the South regional tournament today in Miami Shores, Fla. The Lady Blazers (48-17), who open the tournament against St. Leo at 11 a.m., are the No. 6 seed in the South.

Ely was one of five Lady Blazers named to the All-Gulf South Conference first team this season. Heading into regionals, she is batting .332 and now has 19 home runs and 51 RBIs. She’s also playing excellent defense, with a .970 fielding percentage.

Ely made history on April 20, when she drilled a pitch from West Georgia’s Kacie Crider over the fence in center field for her record-breaking 18th homer of the season. That homer broke a record set by Holly Willis (who wore the same No. 10 as Ely) in 2006.

“I’m pretty excited. It’s been fun,” Ely said. “But I think my teammates are more excited than I am. It didn’t really hit me until I crossed home plate, and I had all my teammates there yelling, giving me hugs and congratulating me. I realized what I’d accomplished was something big, and their support makes it even bigger.”

Ely hit the home run in front of several family members, who had driven up from her hometown of Sarasota, Fla. and from Michigan to watch her tie the record on a Saturday, then set it on Sunday.

That home runs was not only a record for Ely, it was also two runs on the scoreboard for her team.

“I’m glad the home runs are getting RBIs for my team, and we’re winning,” she said.

The fact that driving in two runs for her team meant more to her than breaking a school record speaks volumes about Kristina Ely.

Ely doesn’t pay much attention to her statistics. If no one else told her, she likely wouldn’t know how many home runs she had. She’s proud of all she accomplishes, but what really matters to her is whether her team wins or loses.

That kind of attitude has made Valdosta State head coach Thomas Macera one of her biggest fans.

“She has been a blessing to this program, and to Valdosta State,” Macera said. “She is all about the team. She’ll do whatever she needs to do to help the team. She wants the team to do well. She is the type of player I want playing for Valdosta State, and I’m proud to say she is.

“Kristina is not just a great softball player, she’s a great person. She’s a team leader, she works as hard as she can. I have had her for three years, and there has never been anything negative from her. And I have pushed her as much as I could, because I knew the potential she had.