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Emma Kelbley doesn't believe any pitch is a ball until it gets past the plate into the catcher's mitt.
Still, the St. Joseph Central Catholic junior is particular about her strikes. She loves to play the spoiler role.
"You watch the ball come in and it's, 'Yes, yes, yes, no,'" she said. "Back to basics. Every pitch is a strike, until it's not and then you don't swing. I'm standing up there — you can't expect anything — it's going to be a strike to put in play or you'll strike out.
"My mindset is to put the ball in play. If it's a full count, you can't let the umpire decide it either. Watch the ball in and even if it's not one you want, foul it off until you can. Most girls have a favorite pitch to look for."
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Kelbley struck out only five times in 87 at-bats last season. She made plenty of contact, adding only 14 additional trips to the plate overall.
"Freshman year, I wasn't strong and I was worried about my shoulder," she said. "I've always been a decent hitter, not striking out. Last year it clicked. My goal was to be super confident. I know I can put the ball in play. I practice."
She batted .437 with 38 hits, 33 runs and 13 doubles. She drove in 30 runs.
She was fifth in the lineup as a freshman and third the last two years. She shifts from second base last season to shortstop in 2024.
"Rylie Holland was the shortstop," she said. "I played shortstop a lot of my life. It's always been my favorite. I hurt my shoulder as a freshman, and it wasn't strong enough to make the throw over yet. Rylie graduated and someone had to fill that role.
"I told Coach I could do it. My shoulder is strong, and I can make the throw. I'm happy to be back there. It's a big role to carry, and I'm happy I can have it."
Kelbley played for SJCC assistant Mike Kelbley, who is also her dad, since coach pitch. She works with Mark Harris on batting.
"He loves the girls and he's easy to talk to and he understands the game and he knows what he's talking about," she said of Harris.
The Crimson Streaks lost 5-4 to Danbury in a sectional final after the teams split in the regular season last year.
"It stung," Kelbley said. "Hopefully we can beat them twice and if we see them again at sectional beat them there, too. Everyone who played last year went through it. We knew what to expect, and Danbury knew what to expect.
"We fell short, and it stuck with us. We're all determined."
Senior third baseman Maddie Militello, junior center fielder Avery Naderer and classmate pitcher Stella Thomas are among returners.
"We wanted to make it to Oak Harbor for sectional and win," Kelbley said. "We got to Oak Harbor and lost. We want to make it to the next round and see how far we can go."
SJCC was 15-13 last season and 8-15 the year prior.
"When I was in eighth-grade, they were struggling a little," Kelbley said. "We started winning some games when I was a freshman. Everyone put in more effort, and we kept getting better last season. We only lost two seniors.
"We're used to each other, and we've been building and getting better every year. We want the same or more wins. Don't go through a slump. If we lose a game, get it back the next one."
The Crimson Streaks topped Lakota for their only win in four games this season, including an extra-inning setback.
"It hurt a little, but we have a lot of potential," Kelbley said of the start. "We didn't show what we're capable of. We'll start clicking and see the results. We have a good group of girls and a lot of experience. We're the same girls, except we've gotten better."
Kelbley clubbed her first varsity home run that soared over the fence in her final at-bat of the regular season as a sophomore. She looks forward to the next strike.
mhorn@gannett.com
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