A Work in progress
Lela Work has an apt last name.
It defines what has taken the Lake City High softball pitcher from a thrower with potential a year ago to one who has dominated opponents this season.
Still, the junior is, for lack of a better phrase, a work in progress. She doesn’t count herself on the list of the best pitchers the Inland Empire League has produced the past decade, but she hopes to forge a permanent place among them by next year.
“I’ve seen some of the greatest pitchers we’ve had in this area, and she brings it just as hard as they do,” LC coach Laura Tolzmann said. “She’s almost to their level. She will get there.”
Work is well on her way. The improvement this year over last is remarkable.
As a sophomore, Work posted an 8-5 record with a 1.39 earned run average. Coming into the week, she was 13-1 with a 0.34 ERA, breaking the regular-season ERA mark of 0.44 set by Bobbi Darretta in 2001 when the Timberwolves captured the state 5A championship. Work has allowed just five earned runs in 103 innings, while striking out 139.
She won her final 12 starts going into the regional tournament. In 10 games against the IEL’s 5A teams, she was 9-1 including six shutouts.
“She’s beaten the heck out of us,” CdA coach Larry Bieber said. “She’s a force to reckon with right now.”
Work’s transformation actually began at the start of her sophomore season when she made a major alteration to her pitching style. The easiest way to describe it is she went to a motion that allowed her to get a little more velocity on the ball as she whipped her arm through.
She didn’t work all the kinks out until this winter when she worked with Spokane pitching guru Steve Fountain.
“From last season to this year it really is a night-and-day difference,” Tolzmann said.
Bieber agreed.
“She was very predictable last year,” Bieber said. “She left a lot of pitches over the plate. That’s when we really jumped on her. She’s not doing that this year.”
Opponents hit five homers off Work last year. She’s given up just one this spring.
Work decided not to play basketball so she could spend the winter polishing her mechanics. Her father, brother, LC catcher Brittani Waide and even Tolzmann were among those who spent time working with her.
Tolzmann had a one-word response for Work after the first time they hooked up this winter.
“Wow,” Tolzmann remembers telling Work.
Work said she’s increased her average speed about 3 mph to the upper 50s. While that may seem like a minor increase, it’s made all the difference in the world in the movement of her pitches.
“More speed means more movement,” Work said.
Waide noticed immediately.
“Last year her pitches didn’t move as much as they do now,” Waide said. “They really jump now. She really caught my attention. I really respect what she’s done. She has put more time and work in than most players because she wants to play at the next level.”
Tolzmann said none of her players has worked harder.
“My confidence really improved after a couple of games when I saw how much I had improved,” Work said.
She didn’t envision improving as much as she has, though.
“I thought I’d be a lot better, but not where I am now,” Work said.
Tolzmann said it’s obvious why her team captured the IEL championship.
“Lela is the biggest reason why,” Tolzmann said. “I don’t get very nervous when she’s on the mound. She’s the first pitcher I’ve been able to say that about.”
Work is also one of LC’s top hitters. She finished the regular season with a .375 average, second best on the team. In the nine games she didn’t start at pitcher, she either started at shortstop or third base.
She’ll have an opportunity to be seen by dozens of colleges this summer playing for the Coeur d’Alene-based Wildfire U-16 team. Tolzmann expects a number of schools will be interested in Work as a pitcher and as an infielder.
“Part of the reason I’ve worked so hard is I want to have a chance to play in college,” Work said.
Tolzmann has no doubt Work will have college choices.
“It’s been fun for me to see her from the beginning and know there’s still more to come,” Tolzmann said.
“All the hard work is paying off,” Work said.
She’s just living up to her name.