Kaitlin Lee wins second NJCAA weekly award of season

PERKINSTON – For the second time this season, Kaitlin Lee has won NJCAA Division II Pitcher of the Week. Even if she didn't believe it when Coach Kenneth Long first told her.

"It means a lot. I wasn't expecting it, not one bit," she said. "When Coach called me, I didn't believe him. I thought he was joking with me."

Long said hard work in the fall has set her up for a successful season. She added 5 mph to her pitches, and her performance in a scrimmage against Ole Miss earned her a scholarship there.

"What really stood out to me was how hard she worked in the weight room to get stronger in her lower body," Long said. "Her legs filled out. She's done a great job in the weight room. She tries to set a good example and be a good team leader."

The national honor comes after her third MACJC Pitcher of the Week award for appearing in four games without allowing an earned run. The Harrison Central product posted a 1-1 record with a save, striking out 16 batters in 15 innings.

"All this stuff that's coming to her, it makes me kind of emotional in a good way. You love to see kids that deserve it," Long said. "The team is more important, but when you're doing things the right way, there's some individuals who will get rewards along the way."

Lee, who after a win Monday at Hinds improved to 10-1, now has a streak of 23.2 innings pitched without a walk.

Last week, she struck out eight in a five-inning shutout win over Pearl River, then pitched 2.1 innings of relief in the nightcap.

On Friday, she entered Game 1 against Itawamba in the seventh with two on and one out and retired the next two batters for her first save of the year. She started the second game, taking her first loss in hard-luck fashion, allowing only one unearned run.

Lee has a 0.52 ERA, which is third best among pitchers with 20 or more innings pitched. Her 10 wins are tied for third, and she's struck out 65 batters, third most in the country.

Lee, who threw a perfect game earlier in the season, is also batting .311 as the Lady Bulldogs' leadoff hitter. She also won the NJCAA weekly award once as a freshman.

The awards have been a little overwhelming for her, but they are paying off that hard work before and during the season.

"I didn't have an expectation for myself," Lee said. "All I knew is that I was going to work my butt off for everything that I was going to have. I wanted to work my tail off for my team and my coaches."