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Broadneck sophomore Salvarola is already feared across county
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Broadneck and shortstop/pitcher Kourtney Salvarola is trying to win a state title this season after Anne Arundel-rival Chesapeake elminated them in the Class 4A semifinals last season. – Jon Clements/For The Examiner
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - It didn't take long for Broadneck sophomore pitcher/shortstop Kourtney Salvarola to realize that softball was her game.
When she was 5 years old her stepfather, Reese Kiple, would hit her ground balls in her backyard and Salvarola had a knack for never letting them get by.
“She didn't miss any,” Kiple said. “And I was hitting them pretty hard.”
Salvarola soon joined a 10-and-under softball league, and even against older competition she had no problem keeping up.
“I just loved softball ever since I started playing it,” she said.
Salvarola still doesn't let many balls get by her, on defense or at the plate to the dismay of the rest of Anne Arundel County.
Last season, she blasted a state record 12 home runs while hitting .698 and driving in 41 runs. She also went 13-3 with a 1.37 ERA as a pitcher, striking out 139 hitters in 107 plus innings. Her immediate success didn't surprise Coach Jim Ware.
“The expectations for her were pretty high,” he said. “She had a pretty good reputation coming in.”
Even before starting high school, Salvarola was known as a great hitter because she had been dominating in her travel leagues. When the school season is not going on, she plays for Wagner's travel team where she is coached by Kiple.
By eighth grade, Salvarola was being recruited by Division 1 colleges and last month, she verbally committed to the University of Southern Florida, where she will play shortstop. This season, Salvarola hopes not only to match her outstanding rookie season but build on it.
“I definitely want to beat my home run record,” she said. “And I definitely want to beat Chesapeake.”
The Bruins beat Chesapeake twice in the regular season before falling to them in the Class 4A semifinals. Salvarola will get her first shot at revenge when the teams meet on Friday. As for breaking her home run record, Ware feels it may be a tall task.
“It's going to be a little bit tougher for her,” he said. “She's not new. A lot of coaches are pitching around her.”
In a March 24 game against Northeast, Salvarola was walked four times. However, she still has managed to smack three home runs already this season.
Salvarola credits Kiple and her mother, Karen, with introducing her to the game and helping her reach her potential.
“He's a really good ball player,” Salvarola said of her stepfather. “So I've been around ball my whole life.”
avitelli@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
12:56 PM MST on Fri., May. 25, 2007 re: "Let the tournament begin"
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9:57 PM MST on Thu., May. 3, 2007
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10:38 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 26, 2007
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Examiner Reader said:
As a Wakefield parent, I find your article "Let the tournament begin" appauling. Why not describe the other schools as being smacked around. I'm sure they had some blow outs.
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Examiner Reader said:
Do you cover DC softball teams? DC College softball? Note the Post today has an article on three top teams: Maret, National Cathedral and Georgetown Visitation... Two loses between three excellent teams beating suburban teams featuring players from local travel softball teams with college prospects... Why go so far from DC for our high school teams when you have plenty within the Beltway to feature? Many DC Examiner readers in the far out rural areas? Good paper with local focus is why I read it. Thanks...
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Examiner Reader said:
Katie and Dana have a really good connection together....and I'm sure will continue ...
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