PREP SOFTBALL Champion's Karr slings her way into college

The Flashes ace will sign with Lafayette College Wednesday.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CHAMPION -- So how is Kasey at the bat?
Not bad.
But Kasey Karr, the Champion High senior, is better on the mound and that talent has earned her a chance to play in college at the Division I level.
Wednesday, the 18-year-old daughter of Steve and Penny Karr is expected to sign a letter of intent to attend Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. and play softball.
She'll become the first Champion pitcher to commit to a Division I program since Jackie Beavers went to the University of Tennessee following the 1995 season.
Champion has three state championships -- 1978, 1980 and 1994. The Golden Flashes didn't make a state appearance between 1994 and 2004, but they came close in 2001 when they lost a regional final.
Since her freshman year, Karr is 31-5 with 341 strikeouts and a 0.46 ERA.
Good hitter also
Her batting average since arriving at Champion is .335. Karr's average last year was .494 with an on-base percentage of .611.
What does Lafayette see in Kasey Karr?
"They like the whole deal, I guess," Karr said of her pitching and batting. "But she [Lafayette coach Jeanine Gunther] really likes my batting mechanics and she thought the pitching was phenomenal."
Karr's primary pitches are the screwball, change-up, riser and inside and outside fastballs.
The screwball breaks in on a right-hander and away from left-handers.
"For a right-hander, it starts outside and breaks in. On a left-hander, it runs away from them, especially if they're dragging," said Karr.
Big influences have been her father, Steve, Dave Patton of the Valley Sting traveling organization and pitching coach Mike Derringer of Niles.
Plays with Valley Sting
Aside from her three-plus years with the high school team and a few with the Champion recreation league, Karr has been with Valley Sting for nine years.
In the last few years, Karr has become more involved in the game, mentally, because of her concentration on the batters.
"I've been calling my own pitches with the catcher the past two years," she said. "It makes me think about the game and pay attention -- like what I've thrown [batters] and what I threw them in previous at-bats and where they're standing in the box. All kinds of different aspects."
She said Lafayette is losing a senior pitcher, but another pitcher is a junior this year. Lafayette may have recruited one more pitcher.
"I'd like to maybe step in there and see what I can do and maybe start some games and help them get some wins," said Karr.
Pitches have zip
Champion coach Cheryl Weaver said Karr's pitches have zip.
"Her ball moves quite a bit. She reads batters and knows what she needs to throw."
Karr's high school success and her summer league participation have helped her exposure for college.
"She's known all over because she played travel ball for so many years," Weaver said. "She plays with a very good organization and wins a lot of tournaments. She's known in high school circles, too, so there aren't many places you can go where they haven't heard of her."
bassetti@vindy.com