Softball standout
Softball is in Linse Vlahovich’s blood.
The starting pitcher for the University Titans is the granddaughter of Spokane Metro Hall of Fame softball player Hank Harder, the patriarch of a family who loves the game.
“I’m so lucky to have a family that really loves the game of softball,” the senior said. “They don’t just come out to watch me play. They really do love watching softball.”
Vlahovich has given her family plenty of enjoyment. She led the Greater Spokane League with 170 regular season strikeouts while posting a 15-2 record, leading the Titans into the postseason as the No. 2 seed behind league champion Shadle Park and already guaranteed a spot in the regional tournament.
Vlahovich is one of three GSL pitchers to throw more than 100 innings while posting the third-best earned run average at 1.04 runs per seven-inning game. She threw two no-hitters this season and combined with junior Mandy Mikelson on three more. She pitched or combined on 10 shutouts for University this season.
“It’s a big payoff,” she said. “All of my time has gone into this season – all of my time has gone into softball since that’s the only sport I play now. But it’s not just me. Everyone (on the team) has put in a lot of hard work to make this season a success.”
A year ago, as the defending state Class 4A state champions, the Titans reached the state tournament, falling in the quarterfinals to Eastlake and ultimately sharing seventh place.
On a team with seven newcomers – two of them freshmen and two sophomores, including Kamiakin transfer Ashley Fargher – and four new starters, U-Hi hasn’t missed a beat. The Titans have finished no lower than second in the Greater Spokane League in 14 fastpitch seasons competition.
“When turnouts this season, the four seniors got together and we talked about what we needed to do,” Vlahovich said. “We set the tone for this season, and everyone has really come together, and we play as a team.”
Vlahovich is a late bloomer as a pitcher. As a sophomore, the Titans varsity had two outstanding pitchers in Destiny Gordon and Ashley Maier, who pitched University to the 2003 state Class 4A title.
It was following the championship season Vlahovich dedicated herself to filling those graduating shoes. She spent each of the past two winters working with pitching coach Steve Fountain – who works with nearly all of the top pitchers in the GSL.
They work with Fountain three nights a week from November all the way up until the season starts.
“Basically things have finally fallen into place this season,” she said. “Steve put everything together for me. My form, my pitch selection, everything comes from Steve.”
Vlahovich started out with good velocity and a natural drop. Fountain has worked with her to develop a rise ball to go with an assortment of breaking pitches that have allowed her to strikeout as many as 16 batters in a game.
“What’s helped me the most this season has been my location,” she said. “I don’t necessarily go out there thinking about striking out everyone. I have a great defense behind me. I have all the confidence in the world in them and I don’t have a problem with letting the batter hit the ball.”
The playoffs are a special time, Vlahovich said.
“In the playoffs, especially at state, it’s so much different than pitching during the regular season,” she said. “Every game is so much more important for one thing. For another, you don’t always know about the team you’re facing.
“I like to watch every hitter warm up in the on-deck circle. That tells you a lot about what kind of a hitter they are. (Assistant) Coach (Don) Owen calls the pitches, and I have a lot of confidence in him.”
Vlahovich, who proved herself a big-game pitcher in last year’s state tournament, said she wants to secure her future in these final games of her high school career.
Central Washington University has talked to the senior about pitching for the Wildcats next season. Vlahovich and shortstop Angie Boardman both plan to make a recruiting visit to Ellensburg next week.
A year ago Vlahovich dueled Caitlin Noble, now at the University of Washington, through nine scoreless innings in U-Hi’s quarterfinal battle with Eastlake. Noble, who threw a no-hitter for the Huskies against Kansas this season, scored from second base in the 10th inning international tiebreaker on only the third base hit Vlahovich allowed to send the Wolves into the semifinals, 1-0.