by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
A standout hitting performance by freshman Kaylee Arnzen highlighted Kansas City Kansas Community College’s 2018 season.
A freshman from Pampa, Texas, Arnzen led the Lady Blue Devils in virtually every category on offense including home runs, where her 13 round-trippers placed her eighth in Region VI and No. 16 nationally heading into the NJCAA Division II playoffs.
The Blue Devil leader in hitting at .451, Arnzen also led the team in hits (51), extra base hits (24), runs-batted-in (37) and slugging percentage (.894).
As a team, the Blue Devils hit at a .314 clip which was 82nd nationally while their 26 home runs ranked them No. 38 in the NJCAA.
In addition to Arnzen, five Blue Devils hit better than .300 for the season. Sophomore Shannon Brown of McLouth was second it hitting at .368 followed by freshman Jadyn Lindgren of Hickman, Neb., .355; and three sophomores, Lauren Scott of Winnetonka (.333); Jennifer Mullins of Piper (.318); and Natalie Cowan of Basehor-Linwood (.309).
Others included freshman Aspen Salinas of Wichita North (.290); sophomore Kali Jacobson of Basehor-Linwood (.263); and freshmen Brittney Beck of Bushton (. 225) and Paris Forshey of Bonner Springs (.216).
Lindgren was second in RBI with 20 followed closely by Mullins (19) and Jacobson (18). Lindgren was also second in extra base hits with 20 and home runs with five.
Shannon Greene, a two-year starter from McLouth, led the pitching with an 8-7 record. She appeared in 24 games, 19 as a starter, and led the staff in innings pitched (110), ERA (5.65) and strikeouts (47). Freshman Katelyn Kittrell of Lansing was 4-7 in 14 starts. The Blue Devils finished 12-26 overall and 4-18 in Region VI play.