Junior Claire Kirby leads the TO softball team as not only an elite pitcher but also as an elite hitter.
But she plays a third role that is pivotal to the team, as well, long-time teammate and friend Morgan Casillas said.
Kirby also takes on a big role as one of the team’s top leaders.
“Claire is definitely one of the people that hypes everyone up,” Casillas said. “She always cheers and is always trying to pick up the teammates that are always down. She probably has her moments when she is in her head herself but she is definitely able to realize all of that in the moment and become the better teammate.”
Even though Kirby is an elite pitcher and hitter, Kirby prefers pitching over hitting because of the control she has of the ball.
“I like pitching better because I feel like I put way more effort into my pitching,” she said. “I still put a lot of work and effort into the hitting. Just not as much as pitching, and I feel like when I’m the pitcher, I’m more in control than when I am hitting,” Kirby said.
Kirby’s pitching career started when she was new to softball. She liked how she gets to touch the ball every play.
And even though Kirby plays two important positions, she is able to improve at both positions at the same time.
“I have lessons for pitching and hitting and I do a lot of snaps on my own,” she said. “Pitching, I’m usually with my dad, and for hitting, I usually go to the cages every day.”
Everything clicked for Kirby during her freshman year. Right before she started high school, she was on a high level travel team. When Kirby started her freshman year, she put a lot more work into softball.
“She has been pretty decent at both and when she got to middle school and high school, she definitely improved well on both accounts,” Casillas said.
Who would win in a match-up between Claire the hitter and Claire the pitcher?
Both Kirby and Casillas said Claire would strike Claire out.
