Keystone's Kenzie Conrad leads Plain Dealer's 2011 High School Softball All-Stars
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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Keystone
junior pitcher/infielder Kenzie Conrad elevated her game during crunch time
because that's the only way she knows how to play.
"I want to have the ball in my hand in big games," said Conrad, The Plain
Dealer's Softball Player of the Year and an Akron recruit. "I love the pressure
of being in the circle when the game's on the line."
The Grafton resident went 22-2 with an 0.98 ERA. She used her devastating drop
curve and 60 mph fastball to pitch three no-hitters, including a perfect game,
as the Wildcats finished second at the Division II state tournament behind
Poland Seminary.
"We're disappointed we didn't win it all but playing in the state tournament [at
Akron's Firestone Stadium] was an amazing experience," said Conrad. "The crowds
were big, there's a sense of electricity that's hard to describe and the two
games we played were full of emotion."
The Wildcats won 18 straight games until six errors did them in during a 7-5
loss to Canfield. They didn't lose again until the state title game.
"We beat ourselves against Canfield, but it was an eye-opener and the turning
point of our season," said Conrad.
Graduating just one senior and with a move to Division III possible, the chances
of the Wildcats returning to the final four are good.
"We now know what it feels like to lose down there," Conrad said. "That's
incentive enough to make us work harder in the off-season because we have some
unfinished business."
Softball All-Stars
Player Of The Year
Kenzie Conrad
Keystone
Junior pitcher/infielder
College: Akron
Notable: Exemplified consistency when toeing the rubber or playing first base.
Went 22-2 with an 0.98 ERA, 141 strikeouts and 27 walks in 135 2/3 innings.
Batted .440 with 26 runs scored, 12 doubles, nine home runs, 39 RBI and didn't
commit an error in 107 chances.
Other All-Stars
Kristen Boros
Elyria
Senior pitcher/infielder
College: Butler
Notable: Two-time All-Star was a clutch performer for perennial state-power
Pioneers. Compiled an 18-5 record on the mound with a 2.71 ERA and made just
three errors in 120 chances despite being called on to also play first base and
shortstop. Batted .516 with 39 RBI and six homers.
Presley Destro
Mogadore
Senior catcher
College: Catawba
Notable: Played just two seasons of high school ball but the 5-11 backstop was a
big reason the Wildcats were one win away from reaching the Division IV final
four. Batted .449 with 10 home runs and 30 RBI, picked off six runners at first
and seven of 10 runners trying to steal second base.
Jasmin Filiaggi
Elyria Catholic
Senior outfielder
College: Cleveland State
Notable: Elyria resident was an efficient leadoff batter who mastered the art of
slap hitting the past two seasons. Batted .585, scored 16 runs, had a .682
on-base average, .610 slugging percentage and stole 24 bases despite the fact
she coaxed only three walks. Had a .950 fielding average with three assists.
Kim Kirkpatrick
Olmsted Falls
Senior infielder
College: Kent State
Notable: Two-time All-Star once again proved a left-hander can play shortstop
because she didn't make an error in 60 attempts. Leadoff hitter batted .581,
scored and drove in 16 runs, had a .632 on-base and .977 slugging percentage. A
pulled hamstring limited her to 20 stolen bases.
Erin Pond
Keystone
Junior infielder
College: Akron
Notable: Two-time All-Star is the other half of state-power Wildcats' 1-2 punch.
Batted .539 with a 1.029 slugging percentage thanks to 15 doubles, four triples
and nine homers. Scored 53 runs, had 36 RBI and 13 stolen bases while batting in
the leadoff spot. Committed six errors in 106 chances.
Dani Ramos
Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin
Senior outfielder
College: Kent State
Notable: South Euclid resident and three-time All-Star. She's the prototypical
leadoff hitter/base stealer who can slap or hit with power from both sides of
the plate. Batted .563, scored 49 runs and had 20 RBI. Stole 33 bases in 34
attempts, had a .633 on-base average and played flawlessly in 14 chances.
Rachael Ratcliffe
Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin
Senior infielder
College: Akron
Notable: Bristolville resident is a power-hitting/run-producing first baseman
who committed just one error in 178 chances. Batted .610 with 32 runs scored, 15
doubles, four triples and 51 RBI. Two of her five home runs came off Poland
Seminary junior/Tennessee recruit Erin Gabriel.
Kenzie Wallace
Copley
Junior pitcher
College: Undecided
Notable: Team leader excelled with her arm and her bat. Compiled a 22-2 pitching
record with a 1.06 ERA, 223 strikeouts and 20 walks in 132 innings. Leadoff
batter hit .642 with 38 runs scored, 15 RBI and 25 stolen bases while making
just one error in 168 opportunities.
Cynthia Woodard
Elyria
Senior infielder/outfielder
College: Cleveland State
Notable: Two-time All-Star played shortstop or centerfield, depending on
defensive schemes or needs and did both efficiently. Had a .943 fielding average
and batted .408 with 30 runs scored, 22 RBI, five home runs and stole eight
bases in 10 attempts.
Coach Of The Year
Glenn McCoy
Copley
Notable: The Indians had a stellar season under the fourth-year coach, who
formerly led St. Vincent-St. Mary. Copley ran off 22 straight victories after an
opening loss to Division II state runner-up Keystone. The Indians captured the
program's first Suburban League title before having their season end in a
regional semifinal loss to Division I state runner-up Gahanna Lincoln. McCoy, 52
and an Ellet resident, has compiled an 82-23 record at Copley (165-39 overall)
and graduates just two starters.
-- Bob Fortuna