Fresno State Athletics
Enforcer at the Plate
5/11/2000 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 11, 2000
FRESNO, Calif. - Kaci Pennington used to come to the Fresno State softball clinics consistently as a young woman. The opportunity to learn from the best in the Valley and mingle with other women from around the area was enjoyable for her. But she never thought it would turn into an opportunity.
"It wasn't really about getting a whole lot from the clinics," Pennington said. "But about sharing a good time with the other girls."
Now Pennington is living the dream of many young women in central California. Her parents and grandparents are regulars at Bulldog Diamond and occasionally travel when the team is on the road. And although becoming a Bulldog always seemed out of reach, her credentials are outstanding.
Pennington was a three-sport participant at Sanger High School in softball, volleyball and soccer. She started all four years on the softball team and was captain and team MVP her senior year. She was a two-time All-Tri River Athletic Conference selection and, most impressively, the 1998 Sanger High School Female Athlete of the Year.
The 5-foot-6 sophomore has been playing softball since the third grade. She has always been capable of playing every position, but it was not until her junior year at Sanger that she became a catcher. After the team's catcher had graduated, Pennington took on the new position and became a solid backstop behind the plate.
"I tried out catcher and I liked it," Pennington said. "I saw the need to play at that position for my team, so I took on the challenge."
Since then, Pennington said she has learned to be quick and has used her ability to be vocal as a strength. In a Bulldog uniform, Pennington said she has grasped the concept of catching and become accustomed to a larger variety of pitches.
"The pitchers at this level are amazing," Pennington said. "Amanda (Scott) and Kristen (Hunter) are great. I'm just glad I'm behind the plate and not up there at bat."
Pennington is a criminology major who plans on entering the field of law enforcement. Her father always has been active in law enforcement and she desires to follow his footsteps. It is not a coincidence then that Pennington has become a catcher, a position that requires toughness at all times.
"As a catcher, I have to always know what is going on," Pennington said. "I have to know what the batter did last time up, where should we pitch her, who's on base and a whole lot more."
So when you see the opposition is hesitant to charge into home, it is because Pennington is an enforcer behind the plate.
