Nicole Koczenasz has been having a dream season for St. Louis’s softball team, much to the Sharks’ delight.
Her coach, Robin Hanline has had Koczenasz on the varsity for four seasons. This year, as of mid-May, she was 11-2 with a 1.791 ERA, and it’s been her best season.
“She’s matured a lot,” Hanline said. “Before it was more of a mind game a little bit. If someone made a mistake, she took that to heart. But now she’s doing a good job of getting it done herself. She’s definitely improved.”
Hanline added that Koczenasz’s fastball has been effective.
“Her curveball has been real effective,” the Sharks coach said. “Her freshman year was a little rough. We didn’t have everything to go along with that. She was 2-9. She was young. There were a lot of errors that contributed. Her sophomore year was definitely better. She was 7-11. Last year, she did well, and had a lot of close losses that should have been wins, minus some errors. She was 14-9 as a junior. Her ERA was 3.5. She’s almost cut that in half.”
Koczenasz threw a no-hitter against Chesaning.
“She’s really been throwing well the last couple of weeks,” Hanline said. “In the league, she’s only given up 18 hits in six games. That’s pretty good. She only gave up three hits against Ithaca and Merrill. She’s also seen action in second games.”
Koczenasz has been batting .328.
“She has a lot of power,” Hanline said. “She’s had multi-base hits with five doubles, three triples and one home run. Her (on-base) percentage is .506 so she’s very selective. She doesn’t get a lot of great pitches to hit. She leads the team with 20 walks, which is double from everyone else has. She’s been a good hitter for four years. But she’s been at the top this year. She’s a very hard worker. She works with a pitching coach all year round.”
“I think I hit better last year,” Koczenasz said. “I have hit a home run this season and I’m hoping I can get better and contribute to my RBI.”
Koczenasz has committed to Muskegon Community College.
“I was going to sign with Alma,” she said. “I really connected with the girls (at MCC). I’m hoping I can develop my skills, and then I could go to a (four-year) school.”
The Sharks started out the year at 25-6 prior to a showdown with Valley Lutheran.
“It’s tight group of girls who work as a team,” Hanline said. “I have eight batters hitting .300, so that helps. We’re averaging 9.9 runs a game. Nicole has only given up not quite two runs (a game). You win a lot of games that way. We’re all doing what we can.”
“It’s mostly been my defense and knowing I have a good defense behind me,” Koczenasz said. “As a pitcher, it gives me more confidence knowing they’ll back me up. I’ll back them up and will try my best to hit corners and try to get them to pop up. I know my defense will get it.”
It’s been a close team, Koczenasz said.
“I would say we all connect really well this year,” she added. “I’m hoping we continue with our bats and hits. We’re hoping for the conference title and are hoping for the districts. We want to go far this year.”
The Sharks ended the regular season second in the conference at 12-2.