JOHN KOVACH | Colleges Kohl bunts way to top hitter role

NORTH CANTON -- A Youngstown-area softball player, who bunts the ball much of the time as the lead-off batter for the Walsh University team, sports the top batting average on the squad for the second straight season.
"I bunt 75 percent of the time," said Shannon Kohl, a sophomore center fielder with the Cavaliers from Austintown Fitch who, besides her team-best .444 batting average, also leads the club in hits (36) and runs scored (23).
The reason: She is a left-handed batter who knows how to drag bunt and get a good start down to first base -- and the speed to beat it out.
"I always have been pretty quick," said Kohl, a sociology major.
She said Walsh manager Ed Vargo, who formerly coached at Jackson-Milton High, has given her "the green light" to swing away more this season.
"I'm hitting a lot more than I did in the past," said Kohl, who described herself as "a line-drive hitter, mostly singles. Actually I got my first homer [this season]."
Kohl also shares the team lead in stolen bases (8) and has eight RBIs, a .477 on-base percentage, one homer, two triples and one double.
Top AMC player: She was named AMC Player of the Week for March 19-25, after hitting .571 (16-for-28) over a nine-game span.
Included in her output was a homer, triple and double, nine runs scored, four RBIs and 3-for-3 in stolen bases.
The Cavaliers have a 15-14 record and are 10-4 in the AMC after losing a doubleheader to Cedarville College on Thursday. Walsh's next games are Tuesday at home against Mount Vernon Nazarene.
Kohl knows exactly how she developed her abilities, and the people who were involved in the process.
"My Mom [Michele Chance] and dad [Ed Kohl] started me in league play when I was about 5-years old. But they actually started me hitting and throwing when I was about three. My dad helped me a lot when I was younger. He coached me from 5- to 9-years old. That's when I definitely formed my abilities," she explained.
Later, coaches Gene Molnar of the Mill Creek youth league and Aden Weaver of a fast-pitch traveling league both made particular contributions to her development.
"My parents created my interest in softball, helped me with the fundamentals to get started, and the other two coaches brought it all together for me."
Coaches deliver: "[Molnar] taught me how to play the outfield, how to go back and come in on fly balls, and how judge the ball -- the whole outfield, everything that has to do with outfield."
Molnar's contribution is reflected in the fact that Kohl has committed only one error at Walsh.
"[Weaver] helped me a lot with my bunting. Aden showed me how to get out of the box quick on a drag bunt, to make it fast down the line," said Kohl, who first played for Weaver when she was 15 after her freshman season with the Fitch squad for coach Jerry Beltempo.
Kohl went on to play four seasons in center field for Beltempo and credited him for motivating her to excel.
"Jerry pushed me. He helped me to reach higher. He expected a lot and I tried to give him that. He issued the challenge to me," said Kohl."
At Walsh, Vargo has encouraged Kohl to be independent and to rely on her own instincts and abilities.
"Ed is a very laid back guy and he lets us play the game. When I'm hitting, I do what I want, and that's what helped me," said Kohl. "He has helped me to build up confidence, to depend on my own ability and instincts."
Rookie success: As a freshman, Kohl led the team in batting (.376), stolen bases (22) and sacrifices (10), and won several honors, helping the Cavaliers to a 40-14 record and the AMC and Great Lakes Region championships.
She also was named to the All-AMC second team and AMC All-Freshman team, and was named AMC Freshman of the Year.
Another area player for Walsh is Jessica Lendi, the starting right fielder from Poland High. Lendi is majoring in elementary education.