Andrews’ softball career one for the CBC record books
When Kayla Andrews came back to the Tri-Cities after a brief stint at Mercer University in Georgia, she wasn’t sure what to do next.
The former Richland High School softball standout had lost her love for the sport. She didn’t know where she wanted to study after leaving the NCAA Division I school.
She didn’t have to look far to find a new home.
After talking with Columbia Basin College softball coach Adrian Ochoa and visiting the campus, Andrews decided to become a Hawk in the winter of her freshman year.
“As soon as I walked on the field, everything went back into place, and I fell back in love with the game,” she said.
Ochoa has made a point of recruiting locally since taking over at CBC before the 2011 season. But bringing in Andrews, a 6-foot-1 right-hander who led Richland to a third-place finish at state as a senior, was a major get.
“I was obviously pretty excited when the Gatorade (state) player of the year wanted to come back and play,” Ochoa said. “Huge for us, huge for our program.”
After two seasons, Andrews is nested firmly in the CBC record book as the career leader in home runs (38) and RBIs (141) at the plate, and strikeouts (536), innings pitched (436) and wins (49) in the circle. She set single-season marks this year in all of those categories except for wins — she’s second with 27 — and those numbers likely will increase during this week’s NWAC championships.
But those records aren’t what she and Ochoa are proudest of.
“We talk a lot about embracing the team, trusting the team, and that one single player isn’t bigger than the game,” Ochoa said. “There’s 15 of us — 15 players — and they’re all just as important as the other. They have their own respective roles, and they understand that and know that, and she’s been one to talk about that. It’s been pretty special to watch her grow that way.”
After finishing fifth at last season’s NWAC championships, the Hawks (32-16) are determined to win it all this time. After finishing third in the NWAC East, they open the tournament against regional rival Walla Walla at noon Friday at Portland’s Delta Park.
“Coming into this season, I just knew we were really, really good,” Andrews said. “Early in the year, we all bought into the process of being a unit and being one, and believing in each other and trusting each other. It’s something really special. It’s awesome, and I love being on this team.”
TEAM PLAYER
Andrews on Thursday was announced as the NWAC Eastern Region’s most valuable player and pitcher of the year. She was named an NWAC National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American for the second time.
Andrews is 27-8 with a 2.81 ERA, leading the NWAC with 271 strikeouts and 219 innings pitched. No other NWAC pitcher has cracked 200 strikeouts or innings.
She’s also No. 1 in the NWAC in wins, appearances (43), starts (32) and complete games (26).
CBC pitcher and outfielder Sarah Gilliam hit against Andrews when she played for Southridge High School. She was always eager to face Andrews’ pitching so she could gauge her own progress as a hitter.
At CBC, Gilliam says, she and Andrews have pushed and supported each other in the circle.
“It was never a competition between the two of us when it came to pitching,” said Gilliam, who has thrown 45 1/3 innings this season. “It was always, be there for each other, help each other out because nobody else really understands what you’re going through.”
Earlier this year, Andrews struggled with the attention she got when she stepped to the plate.
“I was getting walked all the time,” Andrews said. “I love to hit, so whenever someone would throw me a strike, I would start swinging because I’m like, ‘Oh, they’re pitching to me.’ I got into my head a little bit.”
Of course, there are plenty of reasons why opposing pitchers are nervous facing Andrews, having walked her 36 times and plunked her 10 more.
She is batting .460, and 23 of her 58 hits have been home runs. She also has 15 doubles and leads the NWAC with 77 RBIs and a whopping 1.127 slugging percentage.
But with the emergence of hitters such as Kadi Patterson (Hanford) and Suzie Lubanski, Andrews began to relax, knowing she didn’t need a big at-bat every time.
“That was one thing that I would preach to her over and over and over again,” Ochoa said. “ ‘Take the walk they give you. It’s nothing but them showing respect for you. Be a team leader, be a captain and take the 60 feet, and let Kadi hit behind you.’
“When Kadi was putting up some big home run numbers, big RBI numbers, then that worked back into Kayla’s favor. They started pitching to her more because it was like, ‘OK, we’re walking Kayla, and then Kadi’s just shoving it down our throat, and then Suzie’s coming and doing the same thing.’ ”
Patterson has a .402 batting average to go with eight home runs, 14 doubles and 42 RBIs. Lubanski is hitting .347 with 16 doubles and 34 RBIs.
With all that hitting, the Hawks are three wins away from matching the CBC single-season record of 35, set by the 2005 team that finished second in the NWAC tournament.
Patterson, Gilliam and Megan McMurrin, who is batting .369 with 17 doubles and 30 RBIs for the Hawks, also were named to the all-NWAC Eastern Region squad on the eve of the NWAC championships.
“We’ve all made our mark on this school and the softball team this year,” Andrews said.
THE FUTURE
Next season, Andrews and Gilliam will play for Mike Larabee’s team at Central Washington University. Andrews will reunite there with former Richland batterymate Paige Liikala.
“It’ll be really fun knowing I have friends already that are going to be there, along with the 20 more that I will get,” Andrews said.
The Wildcats advanced to the NCAA Division II super regionals this spring, and Andrews has started preparing for her move to the next level.
“I’m just expecting to be in the best shape of my life, going there and working really hard and finding my spot on the team,” she said.
As her CBC career winds down, Andrews cherishes the chemistry of this year’s squad.
“It’s been feeling very different from all the teams I’ve ever been on,” she said. “It’s very special to me. We have T-shirts that say ‘find something special.’ We’ve just grown together so much. That’s what’s most important and what I’m most proud of.”
Katie Dorsey: 509-582-1526, @KatieS_Dorsey
ON FIRE
Kayla Andrews’ 2015 and 2016 stats at Columbia Basin College:
2015 | 2016 | |
Batting average | .421 | .460 |
Hits | 61 | 58 |
RBIs | 64 | 77 |
HRs | 15 | 23 |
Win-loss record | 22-11 | 27-8 |
ERA | 2.74 | 2.81 |
Innings pitched | 217 | 219 |
Strikeouts | 265 | 271 |
This story was originally published May 19, 2016 at 4:47 PM with the headline "Andrews’ softball career one for the CBC record books."