SycamoreSage
07-07-2009, 12:48 PM
http://yourseason.suntimes.com/softball/1653662,070609-softball-south-elgin-jim-pierce.article
When it comes to encore performances, it doesn't get much better than the show South Elgin senior Kimberly Pierce put on this season.
After arriving from Florida for her junior year last season, Pierce quickly established herself as the best hitter in the Upstate Eight Conference by batting .495 with nine home runs. Incredibly enough, even with teams trying to pitch her carefully or even in some cases pitch around her, Pierce one-upped herself by batting .547 with a .603 on-base percentage and a .906 slugging percentage this season.
She also had 15 doubles and seven home runs to lead the Storm to a 23-13 record, including a second straight regional title.
"I've never had the opportunity to coach a player like that," said South Elgin coach Jason Schaal. "Kim's a special talent. To watch her perform on the field is really something."
In just the third year for varsity athletics at South Elgin, Pierce wasted little time putting her name in the record books. The back-to-back Courier-News Player of the Year ends her two-year tenure tops in career batting average (.522), runs (81) and home runs (16) at South Elgin.
"It's a good feeling being an impact player," said Pierce, who will suit up for Indiana State next season. "And helping the girls and them helping me as well. I wouldn't have been able to do what I did without my team."
The fact that South Elgin competes in the UEC makes Pierce's accomplishments even more remarkable. The UEC was one of the most balanced conferences in the state this season. With each team aware of her capabilities this time around, Pierce had to make some adjustments.
"I had to adapt to outside pitching," Pierce said. "Almost every time I went up to bat everyone pitched me outside. I just took it the other way and tried not to pull it."
Added Schaal: "Against tough competition the best players rise to the top. You can be good against a good or average team. But how good are you going to be against a great team? This past spring the (UEC) was as good as any conference in Illinois. To go through it the way she did is a credit to her and her work ethic and ability."
During the offseason, Pierce also took the time to improve her defense. Last season, throws tended to sail on her, but after working on it over the summer, teams learned not to run on her as she came up with seven assists from center field.
Her hitting, defense and all-around capabilities are well-documented, but the effect Pierce had on a softball program still in its early years may turn out to be her longest-lasting impact. When players from the lower levels didn't have a game, they usually came out to get a first-hand look at Pierce and the Storm.
"They were able to see how she played the game and exactly what she brought to the field," Schaal said. "Hopefully the younger kids that are coming into South Elgin are seeing all the postseason awards she's getting and say, 'Hey, I'd like to do that too and hopefully someday that can be me.' That's just gonna make the whole program better."
Pierce couldn't agree more, and even hopes someone puts up better numbers than herself.
"I think anybody can do what I did," she said. "So I look forward to the next couple years and seeing what girls are doing and I hope someone does better than me because that's what it's all about -- improving."
When it comes to encore performances, it doesn't get much better than the show South Elgin senior Kimberly Pierce put on this season.
After arriving from Florida for her junior year last season, Pierce quickly established herself as the best hitter in the Upstate Eight Conference by batting .495 with nine home runs. Incredibly enough, even with teams trying to pitch her carefully or even in some cases pitch around her, Pierce one-upped herself by batting .547 with a .603 on-base percentage and a .906 slugging percentage this season.
She also had 15 doubles and seven home runs to lead the Storm to a 23-13 record, including a second straight regional title.
"I've never had the opportunity to coach a player like that," said South Elgin coach Jason Schaal. "Kim's a special talent. To watch her perform on the field is really something."
In just the third year for varsity athletics at South Elgin, Pierce wasted little time putting her name in the record books. The back-to-back Courier-News Player of the Year ends her two-year tenure tops in career batting average (.522), runs (81) and home runs (16) at South Elgin.
"It's a good feeling being an impact player," said Pierce, who will suit up for Indiana State next season. "And helping the girls and them helping me as well. I wouldn't have been able to do what I did without my team."
The fact that South Elgin competes in the UEC makes Pierce's accomplishments even more remarkable. The UEC was one of the most balanced conferences in the state this season. With each team aware of her capabilities this time around, Pierce had to make some adjustments.
"I had to adapt to outside pitching," Pierce said. "Almost every time I went up to bat everyone pitched me outside. I just took it the other way and tried not to pull it."
Added Schaal: "Against tough competition the best players rise to the top. You can be good against a good or average team. But how good are you going to be against a great team? This past spring the (UEC) was as good as any conference in Illinois. To go through it the way she did is a credit to her and her work ethic and ability."
During the offseason, Pierce also took the time to improve her defense. Last season, throws tended to sail on her, but after working on it over the summer, teams learned not to run on her as she came up with seven assists from center field.
Her hitting, defense and all-around capabilities are well-documented, but the effect Pierce had on a softball program still in its early years may turn out to be her longest-lasting impact. When players from the lower levels didn't have a game, they usually came out to get a first-hand look at Pierce and the Storm.
"They were able to see how she played the game and exactly what she brought to the field," Schaal said. "Hopefully the younger kids that are coming into South Elgin are seeing all the postseason awards she's getting and say, 'Hey, I'd like to do that too and hopefully someday that can be me.' That's just gonna make the whole program better."
Pierce couldn't agree more, and even hopes someone puts up better numbers than herself.
"I think anybody can do what I did," she said. "So I look forward to the next couple years and seeing what girls are doing and I hope someone does better than me because that's what it's all about -- improving."