Lady Kaw Softball Conquers All
Kaws Capture 1st League Championship!!!
by Jeff Dickson
Heading into the 2007-2008 season, Veteran Coach Jill Bradney knew she had a special group. The only softball coach that Perry-Lecompton High School has ever known returned a bulk of her roster once again for the third time in three years.
Expectations for the Lady Kaws were very high based on their returning experience and because this group had been battle tested in the brutal Kaw Valley League, many of the players starting since they were freshman. Coach Bradney's faith and belief in that core group, now juniors, paid off in a big way for the Lady Kaws with PLHS's first ever Kaw Valley League Championship in softball.
The Kaws did it in impressive fashion sweeping the competition in league games to finish a perfect 7-0 in the Kaw Valley League.
"This is the first time that Perry-Lecompton has ever won the Kaw Valley League championship and we did it outright, undefeated!!! This means a great deal for the program and the school. I know the team was very happy and excited, they deserved it! They worked hard and everyone made their contributions. Personally, I'm a competitor - I don't like to lose -and knowing how well the girls performed and have come together as a team, makes the coaches very proud, " said Coach Jill Bradney.
That is not to say the road to the championship was an easy one. There have been amazing comebacks, incredible pitching performances and stellar defense and timely hitting that have marked this fantastic season. Courtney Kasson has put together an incredible 16-0 record!
"This softball season has been the best season for me. The team has really pulled together to show people that we want to be the best. Our defense is awesome and our hitting and baserunning has been almost unstoppable," said Kasson.
Maybe the most impressive part of the Lady Kaws season to date is their grace and heart in fighting through one of the most daunting schedules in high school sports in recent history.
Due to unfriendly weather, the Lady Kaws had to play a whopping 12 games in 10 days! But this tough minded group of ladies ignored the overzealous fans, the weather, their opponents and all other distractions to forge ahead and make history.
"We've worked hard all season preparing - in the last 3 weeks,
we've had so many games it has been difficult to work on any
fundamentals or offensive /defensive plays. We took a day to rest
and will hit it hard Wed. - Fri.
I think the girls know, and we'll impress on them, the reason
they've accomplished so much this year is because they have focused
on the little things, not the outcome. They have been very focused
this season and have done amazing things. They know that we need to
take each out, inning and game - one-by-one. That's what we've done
to get where we're at and we will need to continue to do that, "
said Coach Bradney.
By maintaining that frame of mind, the Lady Kaws have put together the best softball record in school history and making them one of the top softball teams in the state of Kansas.
A team cannot build a season resume as impressive as the Lady Kaws without a total team effort and with the success of a certain local college basketball team there is an obvious parallel.
"My husband compared us to the KU Basketball team - he said you never know when someone is going to step up and do the things that will make a difference in the game. We've had different players, either offensively or defensively, change the course of games when we needed it.
Our battery works so well together and that is one reason for
their effectiveness. Courtney has pitched extremely well this
season and LeeAnne (who calls the pitches unless I see something on
a batter) has done an excellent job of setting up hitters. In
regular season play, they've racked up 136 strikeouts and 70 hits
while facing 432 batters.
I believe our infield is very talented. Chelsea and Shelby both
play an excellent 3rd and SS and Emily and Erin tighten up the
right side of the field. It is hard to get a ball through our
infield on the ground.
The outfield has improved tremendously in the past year and I've
not seen a better 3 position outfield this year. We look and play
steady and solid and very few balls get in between our players -
when they do, the relay is incredible.
Of course, our offense has stepped up and we're hitting the ball
better and better. We're hitting .286 as a team and have 3 girls
with double digit RBI's (Erin P - 18, LeeAnne - 17, Courtney - 15
and Shelby - 12). Our speed and the girls' maturity and adeptness
in baserunning has helped us run and do many things to take
advantage of situations and other teams being lazy.
It's been a great season and these are a bunch of wonderful girls -
it's been a pleasure for us to have had a hand in their success,
"said Coach Bradney.
This magical season is not over though, not by a long shot and the Lady Kaws have more goals and work ahead of them. PLHS has had a motto that has defined their season and continues to drive them to excellence.
"To Get Something We've Never Had, We Must Do Something We've Never Done!"
And with that in mind, the Lady Kaws continue to work hard and are staying focused and striving to do their very best building to what they hope will be a trip to the 4A State Tournament.
