Kate Kelly gave up only a pair of singles as Glen Rock defeated Paramus for the first time in years.

Record file photo: Kate Kelly gave up only a pair of singles as Glen Rock defeated Paramus for the first time in years.
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April 10, 2015

GLEN ROCK – Kate Kelly didn’t allow an error here or there by her Glen Rock teammates to break her focus.

Kelly overcame six errors by tossing a two-hitter with five strikeouts and only one walk to lift the Panthers to a 5-3 victory over Paramus on Thursday in a non-league softball game.

The senior right-hander allowed no earned runs and only a pair of sixth-inning singles as unranked Glen Rock defeated Paramus, No. 16 in The Record preseason Top 25, for the first time in at least five years.

“This entire season she has been the backbone, the heart, the strength, the focus – any word that you could say to keep her mind-set in control,” Glen Rock coach Kelly Dowell said.

Kelly remained calm after Paramus scored two runs in the third inning after three errors. She kept her poise after the Spartans scored again in the sixth after a pair of infield miscues.

She ended the sixth by inducing an infield lineout that became a double play.

“For me, being the pitcher, you kind of control the whole game, so if I have mental toughness, it’s easier for everyone else to know that if I’m doing well, they can make plays and get things done,” Kelly said.

“She’s thrown very well, giving us all the opportunities to get outs, and to win games,” Dowell said.

“And in the games, unfortunately, we make mistakes sometimes, that kind of can be frustrating. A lot of unearned runs have occurred against us, but she has been the most valuable player so far.”

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/girls-softball/glen-rock-s-kelly-keeps-her-cool-1.1306486