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Where does All-American catcher Kayla Kowalik rank among the all-time best softball players at the University of Kentucky?
That’s a question I can’t answer and probably not a question that coach Rachel Lawson would want to answer either because she normally does not compare players.
But Kowalik’s numbers might provide the answer to the question.
She hit .442 this year with a .498 on-base percentage and 48 runs scored. She had 10 doubles, three triples and two homers among her 80 hits along with 22 walks. She struck out just 11 times in 181 at-bats and drove in 23 runs while also playing stellar defense behind the plate.
The previous two years she hit .420 in 2022 and .495 in 2021 when she had the top average among Power-Five players.
However, where her numbers are mind-boggling is when you look at where she stands on the career lists in so many categories.
She is the all-time Kentucky leader in hits (353), runs scored (262), batting average (.424), total bases (508), triples (24) and at-bats (832). That’s six offensive categories where Kowalik is No. 1 at Kentucky.
She’s third in games played (253), stolen bases (80) and doubles (44).
Think about this. Catches normally do not have blazing speed but Kowalik ranks first in triples and third in stolen bases. Find me another catcher at a Power-Five school who has done that?
Kowalik is fourth all-time in walks (118), fifth in slugging percentage (.611) and 10th in runs batted-in (126).
Kentucky has had a lot of great softball players but Kowalik’s numbers are overpowering and to me have to make her one of the very best if not the all-time best.
One Response
I agree with your assessment.