ICC Softball is on a tear, winning five of their last seven games by a run total of 68-34. That run has drawn the eye of both the conference and national media.

Freshman Kelly Baker (catcher) was awarded conference and national player of the week this past week for her stellar performance with both the bat and behind the plate.

"She's from Texas. She's a big pick up," Coach Samantha Allen said. "We got her in December. With her talent, I don't know how someone didn't pick her up before then. She's a quiet kid who needs to make a leap, but I think she's making that leap now. She swings it really well. At first she had a little bit of a timing issue, but we cleaned that up, and I think she's hit a homerun in every game in the last five games (10 total hits, 4 RBI). She's been and is going to be a heavy hitter for us."

It isn't just her offense that has helped carry the Pirates on this recent winning stretch. As the starting catcher for ICC, Baker has been fantastic behind the plate.

"I'm going to wear her legs out behind the dish, because she does a really good job framing our kids," Coach Allen added. "We've got players who spin the ball, she does a good job of getting her head behind it and making them look better than what they are. I'm not taking anything away from our pitching staff but she definitely cleaned up some pitches that are hard to get calls on."

Baker and her Pirate teammates play at State Fair College this Sunday, March 13th. The Independence community can catch the softball team in action at home on March 19th, against conference foe Allen County.