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Bishop Shanahan’s Kate Poppe (7-0) is mowing down everyone

Bishop Shanahan softball coach Ron Savastio says he would pay to see his ace, Kate Poppe, pitch. That's how much he enjoys watching her throw.

Bishop Shanahan softball coach Ron Savastio says he would pay to see his ace, Kate Poppe, pitch. That's how much he enjoys watching her throw.

He knows that virtually every time out, Poppe will provide a show for him, her teammates, and spectators. Her performances Friday and Saturday against two of the top teams in the Ches-Mont League National Division tell you why she's among the area's top softball pitchers.

Against West Chester East on Friday, the junior righthander allowed two hits and struck out 14 to outduel the Vikings' Brianna Andraos in the unbeaten Eagles' 2-0 win. To top it all off, Poppe's two-run homer over the fence at East in the sixth inning provided the margin of victory.

She came back Saturday to beat the rain and previously unbeaten Downingtown West, 2-1, on a one-hitter. Poppe finished with 13 strikeouts to run her season total to 67 in 40 innings. The win put the Eagles in sole possession of first in the National Division.

"I'm just at a loss to describe her performance," Savastio said after Friday's game. "And for me to be at a loss for words that's unusual."

Poppe has signed with Villanova, accepting a full scholarship.

In addition to her high strikeout total, she has yielded only two earned runs and recorded five shutouts for the 8-0 Eagles. She is 7-0.

After getting to the PIAA Class AAAA playoffs (semifinals) for the first time in the school's 52-year history last season behind Poppe, the Eagles obviously have some big dreams for this season.

"We feel this is our year," Poppe said. "We're essentially the same team that went to states last season."

"It's all on her," Savastio added. "We have so much confidence playing behind her, and she has so much confidence in herself."

According to Savastio, 79, who has been at Shanahan for 10 years, five as head coach, Poppe has the perfect attitude for a pitcher.

"Nothing fazes her," he said. "She can be leading only 1-0 and tell you, 'Don't worry. It's under control.' She dives for balls in practices as well as games without regard for her body."

Poppe's softball career began with T-ball in the Exton Little League. Her brother Alex, now 21, and sister Allison, 19, were playing in the league, and she wanted to play, too.

Once she got a taste of pitching, she wanted more. That meant lessons and more lessons.

Poppe, 16, throws a riser (her favorite pitch), curve, change-up, and fastball. That fastball has been clocked at better than 60 m.p.h. Even throwing from three feet further back this season because of a rule change hasn't taken anything off her pitches.

"I've been used to throwing from that distance with my travel team," Poppe said.

She lets senior catcher Lauren Mehok call the pitches, just as she did last year with Maria Ficca, who now plays for St. Joseph's.

"When we don't agree on a pitch, we talk it over," Poppe said.

Although her pitching gets most of the attention, Poppe knows how to use a bat, too. She was hitting better than .500 entering the game against Downingtown West, before going 1 for 3.

The homer to right-centerfield against East had special significance for Poppe.

"It's the first home run I've hit over a fence," she said of the ball that just made it over. "I thought their fielder was going to catch it. I couldn't tell whether it was caught until I got to first base."

It was special also because it came against the Vikings.

"We've always struggled with them in the past," Poppe said. "They're always among the better teams. It felt great to hit it."

As for her future at Villanova, Poppe is thrilled.

"It's my dream school. Both my parents went there," she said.