10-2 victory caps strong finish
MORGAN HILL — For Frankie Kellet, Senior Day festivities began well before Friday’s regular-season softball finale against Prospect at Sobrato High School.
Kellett, the Lady Bulldogs’ lone graduate this year, stayed up late last week making T-shirts that read “We love our seniors” and featured photos of her and manager Gene Ciraulo.
Kellett had the help of her mother, who works at Make It Mine Embroidery & Engraving.
“She’s been looking forward to this for a long time,” Lisa Kellett said. “It’s been a very special year for her. She’s always loved playing for this team, and she wanted the girls to have something to remember her by.”
In exchange, the Lady Bulldogs sent off Kellett with a 10-2 victory that gave the team its best record (9-5) in Santa Teresa Division play since 2008.
Sobrato ended the season on a three-game winning streak and with plenty more to look forward to next spring. The Bulldogs could have five juniors back.
“We had a plan in the beginning that the veteran members of the team bought into — like Kellett, (Nicole) Larson and (Allyson) Stoner,” Ciraulo said. “And they all bought into it. They assisted the younger players with understanding and developing. We had great leadership this year, and Frankie was a big part of that.”
Kellett’s experience made a lasting impact on her younger teammates. Her move to pitcher this spring stood out most to freshman catcher Kallie Klinger.
“She’s like the mother of the team,” Klinger said. “Her hard work and willingness to succeed really made her a good leader.”
Kellett pitched a solid three innings in her final game. She struck out one and allowed one run in three hits and a walk and also batted 3 for 4 with two runs, two RBIs and three stolen bases.
“It was everything I hoped it would be for a final game,” said Kellett, who plans to major in English next year at San Jose State University. “This is honestly the best team I’ve been on. I’m going to miss them because they made this the best senior season I could ask for.”
Junior Katie Machado pitched the other four innings and allowed one run in five hits with one strikeout.
Machado grew closer to Kellett this year while switching off in the circle.
“We have a lot of classes together like calculus and ASB. So, we see each other a lot each day,” Machado said. “I’m definitely going to miss her. It’s going to be so different not to have Frankie around.”
Larson came up big at the plate once again, homering in a 3-for-4 effort that also included a double, three runs, three RBIs and a stolen base. Sophomore teammates Nicole Kiles reached base four times and had two hits to go with four stolen bases.
Contributions were also made by freshmen Heather Johnson, Taylor Di Sibio and Klinger — the heads of Sobrato’s youth movement. Johnson doubled and scored twice; Di Sibio sacrificed twice and had an RBI, and Klinger stole two bases.
