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It would be rare air, indeed.
Oswego’s Corrin Kennedy knew she was on the verge of something special as she stepped into the batter’s box for the fifth time Thursday needing a home run to hit for the cycle.
How rare?
The feat has been accomplished just 339 times in the MLB history. The odds of it happening in softball, no matter the level, are also very difficult.
That’s why Kennedy, a senior catcher, tried to clear thoughts of it from her mind.
“I knew it was all I needed,” Kennedy said. “I didn’t want to go up there trying to hit a home run, but I knew, in my head, I was pretty close.
“It was weird. I didn’t want to be aiming for it. Then she threw a pitch I liked and I just hit it out.”
Kennedy, a Jacksonville recruit, left no doubt by rocketing the ball over the fence in center field for a three-run homer.
Her first of the season, it capped the scoring for the Panthers in a 19-2 six-inning victory in a nonconference game at Geneva.
The 5-foot-10 Kennedy also had two singles, a double and a triple and scored five runs for Oswego (4-2). She added two of the team’s seven steals, giving her eight for the season.
The Panthers finished with 16 hits, including a three-run homer from freshman Jaelynn Anthony, and capitalized on five errors by the Vikings (1-3).
“We were not at our best,” Geneva coach Annie Plackett said. “Oswego is usually a very good team and always aggressive on the bases.”
And Kennedy?
“Hands down, she’s a player,” Plackett said.
Kennedy’s bat has come alive, according to Oswego coach Pete Netzel. She had three hits and five stolen bases in the Panthers’ previous game, a 2-0 win over Neuqua Valley.
Kennedy has lifted her season average to .455, exactly what she hit last season.
A retired teacher whose coaching stops in multiple sports include West Chicago and St. Edward, the staffs at Benedictine and Kishwaukee as well as Morton College’s head coach, Netzel applied for the job after Sara Pawlowski stepped down to have a baby.
He credits Tiffany Murphy and Hailey Morland, his assistant coaches.
“They’re really good,” Netzel said. “It’s just been fun from the first practice all the way through.”
He also has a lot of faith in Kennedy and Kiyah Chavez, who split duties behind the plate and at third base.
“She is a leader,” Netzel said of Kennedy. “She takes charge. She calls the pitches. Although I may throw some out there, she has the option to change it, knowing it’s on her if she does.”
Kennedy catches sophomore Aubriella Garza (4-1), who went three innings Thursday before giving way to senior Zoe Precup. Chavez catches the other starter, Anthony.
“All three of them have thrown and all three have done pretty well,” Kennedy said. “It’s nice to have three pitchers.”
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Anthony seems to keep things loose on the team.
“She’s fun to have around,” Kennedy said. “Always cheering, screaming or making somebody laugh. That’s Jaelyn. Then she goes out there and performs, but she has fun while she does it. I’ll take it.”
Kennedy went after it with her college choice, committing to Jacksonville after attending a camp at a nearby school.
“I really liked it and kept reaching out, kind of hammering them with emails,” she said. “And it finally worked out for me.”
She hopes to catch in college but said she’ll play anywhere like she does for her Illinois Hawks travel team for a chance to get on the field.
“I’ve caught for a long time,” Kennedy said. “My older brother by two years, Nathan, is the reason. When I was little I always wanted to be like him and he was a catcher.
“I think he’s pretty awesome, a pretty good brother, so I started catching and now I’m here.”
