The defending Division I state private-school champion Bishop O’Connell Knights girls softball team has started the season with a 5-0 record, outscoring opponents, 76-0.
The Knights have been led by Katie Kutz.On the mound, the right-hander has 68 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched, has allowed just one hit (a bloop single) and has walked six in those high-school contests. In a 9-0 win over St. Mary’s Ryken, Kutz struck out 20. She fanned 18, 14 and 13 in other games.
Her fastball has been clocked in games at 67 mph or higher.
With the bat, Kutz has six home runs and 20 RBI and is batting .773 with 17 hits.
“Katie has just been outstanding on another planet for us,” O’Connell coach Suzy Willemssen said. “The one hit she allowed wasn’t even very well hit at all.”
Ari Clark has four home runs, three doubles and 11 RBI for the Knights. Sophie Taliafero (three doubles) and Emma Prykanowski also have homered, Abby Bond has two doubles and 11 RBI and Bri Lencz has two doubles.
A number of O’Connell players have lofty batting averages through those five games.
O’Connell’s annual game against public-school rival McLean was rained out on March 25.
“We really want to play that game, so we are working to find a makeup date somewhere on the scheduled,” Willemssen. “It’s a big game everyone looks forward to each season.”
O’Connell had two conference games scheduled this week.
