This Kelso senior nearly strikes out more batters this season than all of last year

Last season, Kelso's Kylie Killett shared time in the circle with the 3A Greater St. Helens League pitcher of the year, Paityn Mackin.

Now, the senior has become the team's ace and is ready to follow in her former teammate's footsteps.

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Killett aims to be named the league's pitcher of the year.

Kelso softball: Kylie Killett

Kelso's Kylie Killett winds up for a pitch during a softball game against Toledo on Tuesday, April 21, at Kelso High School. Killett has generated 61 strikeouts this season prior to TDN's Friday deadline, just one less than all of last year in nearly 30 less innings pitched.

She has been up to the task so far, leading the team in innings pitched and strikeouts generated by a wide margin despite not being completely healthy. On top of her pitching duties, she has stepped it up at the plate, becoming an asset in the Lassies' lineup.

Stepping Up

Killett has struck out 61 batters this season in 54 innings prior to The Daily News Friday deadline, just one less than all of last year despite pitching in nearly 30 fewer innings. She generated 14 strikeouts against Inglemoor, 10 versus Mountain View, eight in a matchup with Toledo, and seven during a bout with Battle Ground.

Killett also didn't allow any hits or earned runs in four innings of work during the 17-0 win against the Thunder. She also didn't surrender any earned runs in games against Woodland, Inglemoor and Toledo.

"It's definitely nice having a pitcher to rely on," junior Harlee Barnes said. "We all trust her."

That trust extends to the other girls on the pitching staff as well. With Mackin having graduated last year, Hailey Chapin and Milena Hooper have provided Killett with much-needed innings of relief.

"It's definitely a lot different not having (Mackin) because we pitched together since we were 10," Killett said. "It's a lot bigger of a role for me this year. I knew that I had other girls that would be able to help me. That was good to have because it's always been Paityn and I."

Perhaps most impressively, Killett has been having so much success throwing the ball despite dealing with a nagging injury to her pitching shoulder, which she said isn't serious.

"The fact that she's pulling it off like this is incredible," senior Brooke Hefley said.

Kelso softball: Kylie Killett

Kelso's Kylie Killett hits the ball during a softball game against Woodland on Friday, March 20, at Tam O'Shanter Park. Killett has improved mightily at the plate, recording nine hits and seven RBIs prior to TDN's Friday deadline after not tallying a hit at all last season.

It's not just her pitching that has improved. Killett has become much more fearsome at the plate. She has fully joined the Lassies in the lineup after not recording a hit or an RBI in only eight at-bats last season.

So far this year, Killett has nine hits, including two doubles and seven RBIs. She had two hits and two RBIs with a double against W.F. West, two hits and one RBI versus Toledo, one hit and two RBIs against Mountain View, one hit and one RBI against the defending 4A state champions, Skyview, and tallied a double versus Camas.

"She's picked it up this last year, not just her pitching, but her hitting," Kelso coach Dean Sorensen said. "She's been hitting the ball hard and with authority."

Kelso (7-5 overall, 1-1 3A GSHL) is set to face off against Heritage on the road at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, following its battle with Evergreen after TDN's deadline on Friday.

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