By Ty Marzean

WKTV Contributor

Wyoming Wolves record-breaking senior Kalani Stowe caught the eye of Coach Kaitlin Failing when she was still in elementary school.

“We have been working with Kalani since the summer before her fifth-grade year,” Failing said. “She came to our camp and began pitching with us that summer in our open pitching times.”

Stowe became the first softball pitcher in Wyoming history to eclipse the 600-strikeout mark this past Thursday against Comstock Park. Stowe mowed down the Panthers with a 19-K performance, giving up four hits in a complete game as the Wolves scored a 10-2 victory.

Coach Failing admires the work ethic and determination put forth by her senior hurler. Stowe has been a work in progress since walking through the doors as a fifth grader.

“She has excelled on the softball field since we first knew her,” Failing said. 

“She didn’t start pitching during the travel ball season until the summer after her 8th grade year. We knew she was going to be good because of her ability to snap the ball and go all out. She just needed the opportunity to pitch in games.”

Stowe made an impact on the varsity roster as a freshman, collecting 156 strikeouts in 89 innings of work in her first season.

“She worked extremely hard to be ready to pitch varsity with very little experience on the mound leading up to her first high school season,” Failing said.

“She came to weekly lessons to work on controlling her movement pitches and increasing her spin rate. What sets her apart is her spin rate and her ability to spin the ball and make it move with her movement pitches. For her, it was learning to control her natural ability to spin the ball and make the ball do what she wanted it to do for each pitch.”

The Wolves took part in the Northview tournament this past weekend, and Stowe added to her impressive record by throwing a five-inning, no-hitter against Spring Lake in a 7-0 win. She also tossed another three innings against Kenowa Hills in the Wolves’ 11-0 victory over the Knights, taking her career mark to 637 strikeouts.

With 14 games remaining on the Wolves’ schedule, the 700 club is well within reach for Stowe, who has committed to play at Grand Rapids Community College.

“It was very exciting to see her surpass this record because of all the hard work she has put in for years to get to this point,” Failing said. “But we are also excited to see how high she can go this season and see if she can make it over 700 as well.”

A .600 batting average and 14 stolen bases as well

Stowe doesn’t only dominate in the pitcher’s circle; she is also Wyoming’s most productive hitter. The switch hitter carries a .600 batting average and has stolen 14 bases on the season.

“She is a great hitter as well and really a great player in any position on the field,” Failing said. “When she isn’t pitching for us, she is usually catching. She is a natural right-hand hitter, but also slaps left-handed. She is extremely fast and can outrun most balls she puts into play from the left side and hits with power from the right side.”

Stowe is not the only four-year varsity player in the Wolves’ lineup.

Maddy Lee has been patrolling center field since her freshman year. Lee has a .569 on-base percentage and has worked 21 walks this season.

“She has been our varsity starting center fielder and has been solid out there all four years,” Failing said. “She covers a lot of ground and is a leader on the field for us.”

Junior catcher Kellsie Dieterle also is an important piece of the puzzle for Wyoming. Failing emphasized the need for a strong option at catcher that can allow Stowe more innings in the pitcher’s circle.

“She is a girl that we taught how to catch last season because we knew we needed a catcher for Kalani,” Failing said. “She has performed beyond our expectations back there. She has only allowed three passed balls on the season and thrown out one of the five steal attempts. There are not many teams that even attempt to steal on her.”

Senior shortstop Isabelle Castro is another key player for Wyoming. Castro currently holds a .404 batting average and has committed to play at Muskegon Community College.

“She moved from third base to shortstop for us this season and has done a great job,” Failing said. “She is a big bat in our lineup and is always hitting the ball hard.”

Failing’s Wolves hold an 11-8 record heading into the second half of the season and will look to her seniors to lead the way against a tough upcoming schedule.

“We have a very strong core with a few young players that have stepped up for us this season,” Failing explained. “We are looking to see the growth each player makes and how our team can continue to work together against some tough competition.”

Wyoming travels to Muskegon Reeths-Puffer and Covenant Christian for two doubleheaders this week.