As only a freshman, Bishop Shanahan High School’s Kate Poppe pitched two no-hitters. She followed that up in her sophomore season by throwing seven shutouts. The 16-year-old junior from Downingtown, Pa., had an ERA of 0.94 last season and racked up 217 strikeouts.

            “It feels great throwing that well,” Poppe said. “The game moves so fast, and I can just get in a zone and mow people down.”

             The combination of her pitching statistics and the fact that last season was the first that her softball team has ever been to state, Poppe was named the 2010 Bishop Shanahan High School Player of the Year by her softball coach. He usually only gives awards to seniors on the team. Poppe was a sophomore when she won.

Her club team also participated this year in the ESPN RISE National Softball Championships in Huntington Beach, Calif., after qualifying in Edison, N.J., against some of the best competition in the country. Although Poppe’s team only won two games, she says she threw a great game against one of the best teams in the nation.

The best part of being a female athlete for Poppe is that she stands out with her friends.

“No one expects a girl to be able to throw a ball 60 mph underhand,” she said. “It’s good to be different.”

Poppe lives softball both on and off the field, as her entire room at home is painted as one large softball. She hopes to continue playing in college and although she has not selected a school, currently her top choices are Villanova, St. Joseph University, Manmouth University and University of Delaware.

While in college, she plans to pursue a business degree and hopes to eventually hold a sports management position, and also give back by coaching softball at some level.