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When the top-ranked Marian softball team was upset in the opening round of the Class 3A sectionals, it brought an end to the exceptional career of Knights senior third baseman Kathleen Kavanagh.
She might be Marian's best hitter.
"Somewhere between .585 and .605," Marian coach George Grenert said.
And might be Marian's best fielder.
"Good arm and great reflexes," said Grenert.
But Kavanagh's best contribution to the Knights might just be her mouth.
"She's kind of like the Mother Duck, if you say," Knights senior Emily VanTornhout said. "She gathers us all around if we're goofing off."
"She always knows when to be serious," senior Ellen Nagy adds, "but she can also have those moments where if the team needs to be brought up, she knows exactly what to say. She's a great leader on the team. And she's a consistent player on both defense and offense. She's really key."
Maybe the key to a Marian team that was one of the best in the state.
"She's pretty low-key, to be honest with you, I mean, personality-wise," Grenert said. "But when she's on the field, she's very energetic and enthusiastic and very involved in the game. And brings the calmness to the team, if you will."
"I'd always had a natural ability, I guess," Kavanagh said. "I would say there's no one strong point. I just try to stay consistent in every area."
And that goes for her schoolwork too, where she also posts some pretty good numbers, with a 3.6 grade point average.
"I try hard in school," Kavanagh said. "So I get pretty good grades."
Now that might be the best part of all.