Kelly Nelson Lake City Year: Senior Sport: Softball Position: Pitcher

Kelly Nelson was in a zone Saturday at Moscow. The strike zone, that is.

The Lake City senior pitcher struck out 11 of 16 batters in a five-inning, 20-0 victory.

“She was throwing aspirins that day,” Timberwolves coach Dwight Wilson joked. “The Moscow batters were up there, and they were afraid. The coach had them choking up on their bats. They must have been swinging nine-inch bats.”

All that stood between Nelson and a perfect game were two baserunners. One reached on a dropped third strike and the other on catcher’s interference.

The right-hander upped her record to 5-0. She’s walked none, given up 10 hits, fanned 41 and has a .000 ERA.

“I am just amazed at her control,” Wilson, a veteran men’s fastpitch pitcher, said. “You and I could stand face to face 15 inches apart talking and she could throw the ball between us, and I would not worry about her hitting us.”

That indeed is one of Nelson’s practice drills.

Six years ago, the 18-year-old Nelson started to learn the fastpitch technique. “My dad (Ron) has put in a lot of time working with me and taken a lot of wild pitches,” she said.

Since then, Nelson’s developed two drop balls, a riser, a changeup, a fastball, and is working on a curve.

Nelson’s pitching speed is estimated at 50 to 60 mph. The latter is closer to what collegiate women throw.

Wilson is now asking Nelson to keep the batters honest.

Teammate Sherrie Holzer (3-0) “has the fear factor that I don’t have, which is why my coaches want me to be a little wild,” Nelson explained. “I’ve only had one batter this year where I’ve had three balls on them. The first time (at bat), they’re scared; after that they just dig in. The past few games, I’ll brush them back - I’m working on that.”

Nelson also plays shortstop and is batting about .500 for the undefeated Timberwolves. But that’s no surprise, considering she’s had a pitching machine and batting cage at her home since she was in the fourth grade.

The 4.0 student will graduate at the top of her class, sharing valedictorian honors with soccer standout Katie Clark.