Columbus North’s Kelsey Lovelace fields a ground ball during Monday’s game against Columbus East at Southside Elementary.
Tommy Walker | For The Republic
In her first three years of high school softball, Kelsey Lovelace had the power-hitting Maddi Rutan batting a spot or two behind her in the Columbus North lineup.
As a result, opponents knew they couldn’t pitch around Lovelace, and she was able to thrive at the plate.
But with the graduation of Rutan, who now is starring at Eastern Kentucky, and four other key players from last year’s 25-2 team, Lovelace is the main cog in the Bull Dogs batting order. So instead of seeing a lot of great pitches to hit, she’s leading the team in walks. On Monday, Columbus East intentionally walked her in a tie game in the bottom of the seventh.
“Definitely, I would say that I don’t get anything given to me,” Lovelace said. “It’s all usually up, or it’s really far out.”
Still, Lovelace, who bats in the leadoff spot, has been able to produce. Through six games, she is the only North player hitting better than .400, and she leads the team in hits and runs scored and is the only Bull Dog to have hit a home run.
“I’ve had a good start,” Lovelace said. “I struggled a couple games seeing eye-to-ball, but just having the team that we have, I’ve kept my confidence up.”
“She’s been phenomenal,” North coach TJ Jarvis said. “She’s making great adjustments in the box.”
Columbus North’s Kelsey Lovelace throws the ball to first base to complete a double play during Monday’s game against Columbus East at Southside Elementary.
Tommy Walker | For The Republic
Lovelace also made a huge potential game-saving play at shortstop in the ninth inning of Monday’s win against East. With two out and runners on second and third, she made a backhanded stop in the hole between short and third and fired a laser to first to nab the Olympians’ Savanna Sullivan to keep the game tied. The Bull Dogs then won it in the bottom of the ninth.
While she’s been the leader on the field, perhaps more importantly, Lovelace has led the team off the field throughout the offseason as North’s lone senior.
“It’s taken a lot of adjusting for sure, but I have the best girls,” Lovelace said. “It’s so good being like a mom figure to these girls, and they’re so loving and so supportive. I take all of these girls under my wing. I lead practices, but we play as a team at the end of the day. It could not be better, honestly.”
Columbus North’s Kelsey Lovelace takes a swing at the ball during Monday’s game against Columbus East st Southside Elementary.
Tommy Walker | For The Republic
Lovelace’s leadership has been a big plus for Jarvis, who took over when Ron McDonald retired after last season.
“She has become a phenomenal leader in the dugout, in the locker room, at practice,” Jarvis said. “She has made my job as a first-year head coach easier. When she bought in, everybody else bought in. She’s that kind of a leader. I couldn’t ask for a better leader.”
The Bull Dogs are off to a 5-1 start, including 3-0 in Conference Indiana following wins this week against East, Bloomington North and Southport. Columbus North is scheduled to play Class 4A No. 8 Center Grove and Bedford North Lawrence today at Center Grove.
“We’re learning and growing,” said Lovelace, who has committed to play at Calumet College of St. Joseph in northwest Indiana. “This is a really tough week for us, so we just have to stay mentally and physically strong and keep playing as a team.”
The Bull Dogs are building toward the sectional, which will be hosted by Columbus East this year. Columbus North, which has posted one-run wins against East Central and Columbus East, have lost to Shelbyville in the sectional final each of the past two years.
“We want redemption,” Lovelace said. “This is our year to prove that even without big names here, we can still do something.”
