KUTZTOWN, PA (May 11, 2010) – With a sweet swing that sings, a sensational smile that sparkles and a machine-like arm that terminates base-runners, Kutztown University freshman catcher Katie Lynch has resembled a human automated teller machine (ATM) for consistently delivering clutch hits, dispensing wisdom and displaying leadership throughout the season.
Lynch, who plays with the ferocity of a middle linebacker, was named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Freshman of the Year for compiling a .342 batting average with 63 hits, 17 doubles, five home runs and 39 runs batted in. Lynch led Kutztown with 23 two-out hits and 17 two-out RBIs this season. In addition, Lynch posted a .400 average with the bases loaded.
“It's a big honor coming in as a freshman and winning a major award like that,” Lynch said. “It's nice to have the hard work pay off and coaches who had confidence in me this year. I was excited to be named freshman of the year because it's a huge honor.”
Lynch has easily glided into the Shaq-like footsteps left behind by Ashley Fitzgerald, who was one of the best catchers in the history of the KU softball program. However, if the first year is any indication of what the future holds for Lynch, then she could enter the discussion with Fitzgerald as one of the best by the time she earns her degree in elementary education in 2013.
“She was a highly-recruited student-athlete whom we expected to play right away,” Kutztown head softball coach Judy Lawes said. “She was told that and she's worked out well. Katie has been one of our top hitters throughout the season. Defensively, she's capable of throwing anybody out. She's handled everything pretty well mentally, which is good for being that young. She's meant a tremendous amount to our team and the success that we've had so far.”
Lynch and the Golden Bears (41-16 overall) will try to keep the good times rolling when they compete against Shepherd University in the first round of the NCAA Atlantic Regional Friday afternoon at California University of Pennsylvania's Lilly Field beginning at 2:30 p.m. California will meet Fairmont State in the other matchup starting at noon.
Kutztown, which is in the NCAA tournament for the eighth straight season, has won 40 games for the fourth consecutive year. The Golden Bears are ranked 20th nationally in the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association (NFCA) top 25 poll. Batting third in the KU lineup, Lynch has been the fulcrum of a solid batting order.
However, the secret of Lynch's success has been what she has accomplished away from the softball field. She has worked extremely hard in preparation for her college career by spending extra hours in the batting cage and lifting weights. While Lynch is extremely gifted, she credits her father for instilling toughness, discipline and a strong work-ethic. Those qualities have helped her flourish.
“He's pushed me with confidence,” Lynch said of her father. “He's always believed in me to do better and work hard. He's always kept that fire in me to keep going, working hard and pushing myself to the fullest.”
Of course, living with a family full of softball and baseball players has a tendency to rub off on a person. Consider that Lynch's older sister, Tracey played softball at Liberty. Her older cousins, Matt and Kevin were pitchers at Florida State. Lynch spent many days and nights in the backyard catching her father and cousins. It was love at first sight and Lynch hasn't stopped performing since.
“It's definitely an honor in my family to play softball,” Lynch said. “I've been playing since I was 5 but I've been around the game my entire life. It was fun being a pitcher-catcher family and I definitely learned a lot from them.”
The education is still continuing now for Lynch, who has made playing Division II softball look ridiculously easy while abusing pitching throughout the season. Lynch has made adjustments in each at-bat. It's those long hours around her family that has helped Lynch become one of the most feared and clutch hitters in the conference.
“I think I've always been a two-strike hitter,” Lynch said. “I am not a home run hitter. I'm not a bomb hitter like some people think. I like to put the ball in play and get those gap to gap hits. I like to drive the ball and put it in play with two outs. A lot of teams rally with two outs and we've done that a lot this year.”
Kutztown has played plenty of tight games that have tested its character, heart and nervous system. Lynch has had share of highlights like delivering the game-winning double in the bottom of the seventh inning against Shippensburg and collecting a career-high four hits while driving in all three runs in a victory over Catawba. Lynch has 15 multi-hit games, which is second on the team behind Maria Schiavo (Old Forge, PA/Old Forge).
Lynch has been her best against sixth-ranked and No. 1 seed Bloomsburg. She has posted a .421 average against the Huskies. Lynch has eight hits and eight RBIs in five tense matchups against Bloomsburg. However, to get another crack at Bloomsburg in the Super-Regionals, the Golden Bears must survive a formidable weekend in Cal. When Kutztown takes the field Friday afternoon it will be its first game April 28 when it swept the University of the Sciences, a span of 16 days.
“We're ready even though we had a long break,” Lynch said. “We've been working hard during practice and everybody is looking forward to getting back into action. We have a lot of fight and the motivation to keep playing.”
--KU--
